July 14 (Reuters) - Starbucks ( SBUX ) CEO Brian Niccol

said the coffee giant will require many of its employees to work

out of office for a minimum four days a week, from the current

three, as part of a new policy expected to kick in later this

year.

The policy would include common days of work from Monday to

Thursday, applicable to Seattle and Toronto support centers as

well as regional officers in North America, Niccol said in a

message shared with partners on the company's website on Monday.

Niccol, who will complete a year in the job in less than two

months, has been steering Starbucks ( SBUX ) back to its coffeehouse

roots by focusing on enhancing in-store experience and reducing

dependence on mobile and to-go orders.

"Being in person also helps us build and strengthen our

culture. As we work to turn the business around, all these

things matter more than ever," Niccol said.

"We want leaders and people managers to be physically

present with their teams," he added.

The four-day office work policy is expected to take effect

from September 29.

In February, the coffee chain operator asked the remotely

working vice president level leadership to begin relocating to

Seattle or Toronto. It is now extending this requirement to all

support center people leaders, who are expected to move within

12 months.

Starbucks ( SBUX ) has been accelerating the roll out of new staffing

and service model across company-owned North American stores to

revive sales growth after struggling in the face of rising

inflation and economic uncertainty.