Starbucks CEO asks staff to step it up following February job cuts
What’s going on at Starbucks?
Starbucks is asking its employees to step it up after cutting hundreds of corporate roles in February.
“We’re not effective on how things get to the store, and we’re not effective in making decisions and then holding each other accountable to those decisions,” CEO Brian Niccol told staff during an internal forum.
“We gotta untangle a few things right now…but you know what? It’s all things that we can untangle.”
The latest workforce reduction is part of the coffee chain’s “Back to Starbucks” plan.
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• Starbucks’ return-to-office mandate for 2025: Guide for Canadian employees
• ‘An extremely difficult day’: MLSE eliminating 10% of workforce
• U.S. tariffs could affect more than 20K automotive jobs in Windsor
Key takeaway for Starbucks staff
To improve efficiency, employers in Canada, including Starbucks, can’t make significant adjustments to the jobs of staff (i.e. increasing an employee’s workload) without their consent.
This applies to non-unionized individuals working full-time, part-time, or hourly in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
LEARN MORE
• Changes to your job in Ontario: Employee rights
• What Albertans need to know about changes to their job
• Changes to employment in B.C.: What employees need to know
WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru breaks down everything Canadians need to know about changes to their job on an episode of the Employment Law Show.
Major employers slashing staff
Starbucks isn’t the only major employer that has scaled back its staffing levels in 2025.
Other big names, including Disney, Town of Cochrane, Autodesk, Mohawk College, JPMorgan, Chevron, Vale, Meta, Canada Post, Workday, ADM, Amazon, Shopify, Stripe, BP, Microsoft, Hudson’s Bay, and Wayfair, have also pulled out the axe.
SEE ALSO
• ‘We lost our agility’: Estée Lauder planning to slash up to 7,000 jobs
• Canada’s immigration department slashing workforce by 25%
• Where are layoffs happening in Canada?
💡Lost your job at Starbucks? For a broader understanding of your severance rights, visit Starbucks Layoffs: Your Rights and Severance Pay Explained. You can also use our free Pocket Employment Lawyer to get real-time insights.
Workplace issue? Contact us
Since 2007, the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has helped tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals resolve their workplace issues.
Whether you’re in Ontario, Alberta, or B.C., our lawyers can review your situation, enforce your rights, and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and SHOULD NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.
About the Author
Lior Samfiru
Lior Samfiru is a Founding Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and the Practice Leader of the firm’s Labour & Employment Law Group. Known for his advocacy and success representing both employees and employers, Lior exclusively serves clients in Ontario, where his extensive experience has made him one of Canada’s most sought-after employment lawyers.
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