Niccol has also overseen a shift in the company’s approach to its stores unionizing, after workers represented by Starbucks Workers United have successfully unionized at over 500 stores across the US, with more than 10,500 workers.
“Our size and structure can slow us down, with too many layers, managers of small teams and roles focused primarily on coordinating work,” Niccol wrote in a letter to employees in January, stating the layoffs would be announced in mid-March.
The union has been fighting for a first union contract at the company since the first store won its union election in late 2021.
Layoffs are largest in company history, though warehouse, roasting and store employees are not part of cuts.
Starbucks plans to lay off 1,100 corporate employees and close several hundred open of vacant job positions, the company announced on Monday.
