Starbucks has announced a reduction in its corporate workforce, impacting nearly 1,000 employees in its Seattle and Kent, Washington, facilities. The layoffs are scheduled to begin in December 2025 and are part of a broader restructuring effort.
What happened
Starbucks is implementing layoffs as part of a restructuring plan aimed at creating smaller, more focused teams within the company's corporate structure. The announcement follows a WARN notice filed on October 9.
How many employees affected
According to the WARN notice, 974 employees will be laid off from the Seattle and Kent locations. While the company is cutting 1,100 corporate roles, the specific number of employees affected in Seattle and Kent is nearly 1,000.
Why layoffs happened
The layoffs are part of a company initiative to streamline operations and create more agile teams. The goal is to create smaller, more focused teams.
Company background
Starbucks is a global coffee company and coffeehouse chain. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, it is the world's largest coffeehouse company.
Industry impact
The Starbucks layoffs reflect a broader trend of corporate restructuring and cost-cutting measures within the food and beverage industry.
What's next
The layoffs are scheduled to begin on December 5, 2025. Starbucks has not yet released detailed plans for supporting affected employees.
Source: layoff.today