One of the world’s largest consulting and accounting firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), is tightening its return-to-office policy, signaling a shift towards more in-person work. PwC’s U.K. branch announced plans to monitor employees’ locations to ensure compliance with the updated policy, which will take effect in January 2024. This change comes as part of a broader push within the corporate world to reduce remote work following the pandemic.
Starting next year, PwC U.K. staff will be required to spend at least three days a week, or 60% of their time, in the office or at client locations. This represents an increase from the previous mandate, which required two to three days of in-person presence. The stricter guidelines emphasize the firm’s focus on client service, coaching, and professional development. In an internal email, PwC communicated that employees will receive monthly updates on their location data to track adherence to the policy.
Laura Hinton, PwC U.K.’s Managing Partner, explained the rationale behind the new rules, stating, “This feels right for our business and right for our people, given our focus on client service, coaching, and learning and development.” The firm believes that these measures will improve collaboration and client interaction, key pillars of their operational strategy.
PwC clarified that if an employee’s location data indicates non-compliance with the policy, the company would first seek to understand the reasons behind the discrepancy before taking any further action. What isn’t clear is how they are tracking employees and will they still be “tracked” when not on the clock.
The tech industry has been particularly prominent in this shift. Companies like Amazon have mandated that employees work in person at least three days a week, with warnings that failure to comply could lead to termination or affect promotion opportunities. Similarly, Meta adopted a three-day in-office rule for employees who are not fully remote.
The finance sector has also taken a strong stance on curbing remote work. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has been outspoken about the drawbacks of working from home, and his firm has made multiple return-to-office pushes. Top trading staff were called back to the office as early as 2020, and managing directors were required to follow suit in 2023. Other major banks like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs also took steps to reduce remote work in late 2022.
As PwC and other major corporations continue to enforce stricter office attendance policies, it remains to be seen how employees will adapt to this evolving work environment. With the hybrid work model now under increased scrutiny, the balance between flexibility and in-person engagement is becoming a critical issue for businesses worldwide.
