Starbucks' newly appointed CEO, Brian Niccol, has come under heavy criticism for his decision to commute nearly 1,000 miles from his home in Newport Beach, California, to the company’s headquarters in Seattle using a corporate jet.
The news has sparked outrage on social media, where many pointed out the contrast between the coffee giant's public commitment to sustainability and the lifestyle of its top executives.
Niccol, who is set to take the reins of the world’s largest coffee chain on September 9, will not be required to relocate to Seattle, according to the BBC.
Instead, he has been granted permission to commute from his California residence. Starbucks has even agreed to set up a small remote office for him in Newport Beach.
The company’s hybrid work policy mandates that employees must be in the office at least three days a week. However, it remains unclear if this rule will apply to Niccol.
The terms of Niccol’s employment, which include a $1.6 million annual base salary, a performance-related bonus of up to $7.2 million, and potential Starbucks shares worth up to $23 million a year, have only added fuel to the fire.
Critics, including former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, have questioned the ethics of such high executive pay, especially in light of rising consumer prices.
Social media users have also expressed their frustration with the environmental implications of Niccol’s travel arrangements.
"The new Starbucks CEO is 'supercommuting' 1,000 miles to Seattle on a private jet to work, so don’t be too harsh on that waitress who gave you a plastic straw when you didn’t want one," quipped one user on X.
The controversy surrounding Niccol's commute sheds a light the ongoing debate about remote work, a topic that has been hotly contested since the coronavirus pandemic led to a shift in work practices across various industries.
While some companies have pushed for a return to full-time office work, others have embraced the flexibility of remote arrangements.
Starbucks has yet to comment on the backlash.
