PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the United Kingdom will be implementing a new policy requiring employees to spend at least three days a week in the office or with clients starting on January 1. The decision was made to formalize the company’s approach to working together in person and to focus on building and sustaining strong relationships with clients and colleagues. The move is seen as a way to differentiate the client experience and create a positive learning and coaching environment. PwC acknowledges the benefits of a hybrid approach but believes that more emphasis on in-person working is necessary for the success of the business.
To ensure compliance with the new policy, PwC will start tracking where its employees work and will share individual working location data with them on a monthly basis starting in January. The company aims to provide clarity on where and how employees are expected to work, as the previous guidelines of two to three days a week were open to interpretation. While some staff have already been spending more time with clients and teams in person, others may need time to adjust to the new working patterns. Managing partner Laura Hinton emphasized the importance of face-to-face working in a people business like PwC and how the new policy aligns with the company’s focus on client service, coaching, and learning and development.
The Covid-19 pandemic led to a workplace revolution that resulted in many companies transitioning to a hybrid working model to accommodate employees balancing office-based work and home life. However, there has been a recent trend among companies to encourage employees to spend more time in the office. Companies like IBM have mandated US-based managers to work in the office at least three days a week or potentially leave their positions. Other companies, including UPS, Amazon, Meta, and Zoom, have also taken similar steps towards increasing in-person working. Evidence collected by the CIPD suggests that companies with a hybrid working model generally rate the performance of employees working from home positively, highlighting the importance of finding a balance between flexibility and meeting the needs of the business while accommodating employee preferences.
The new policy by PwC reflects a broader shift in the corporate world towards encouraging more in-person work, as companies recognize the value of face-to-face interactions for building relationships and driving success. The move towards increased in-office time is seen as a way to enhance client service, coaching, and learning opportunities for employees. While the hybrid working approach has benefits, PwC believes that more emphasis on in-person interactions is crucial for the business. By tracking individual working locations and sharing data with employees, the company aims to ensure fair and consistent application of the new policy across the organization.
The decision by PwC to require employees to spend more time in the office aligns with similar actions taken by other companies, signaling a broader shift towards prioritizing in-person work in the post-pandemic era. Companies are recognizing the importance of collaboration, relationship-building, and teamwork that can be best achieved through face-to-face interactions. While hybrid working models offer flexibility and positive employee performance, finding a balance between remote work and in-person collaboration is crucial for business success. Employers are encouraged to consider the needs of employees while also meeting the operational requirements of the business, striking a balance between flexibility and in-person engagement.
