One of the World’s Largest Consulting Firms to Monitor Employee Locations as It Enforces Return-to-Office Policy

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the world’s largest consulting and accounting firms, is introducing a more stringent return-to-office policy. Beginning next year, PwC’s UK-based operations will require employees to be in the office at least three out of five days each week, increasing from the current two-day requirement.

In an email to staff, PwC stated that it would begin sharing employees' location data with them on a monthly basis to ensure compliance with the new rules. Laura Hinton, PwC UK’s Managing Partner, said the policy is designed to prioritize in-person collaboration. "This feels right for our business and for our people, given our focus on client service, coaching, and learning and development," she said.

The new policy will come into effect in January, allowing staff time to adjust to the changes. PwC emphasized that building and maintaining strong relationships is easier in face-to-face settings, which it believes is key to the firm’s success.

When asked about consequences for employees who don't adhere to the policy, a PwC spokesperson stated they would first seek to understand the reasons behind non-compliance.

Other consulting firms have adopted varying approaches to return-to-office mandates. Deloitte doesn’t enforce a mandatory policy, with some teams working on a case-by-case basis. KPMG allows workers to follow a hybrid model, and EY has also begun monitoring compliance with its own mandate, requiring employees to come in at least two days per week. Reports suggest half of EY’s staff haven’t been following this rule.

As pandemic restrictions eased, many companies started requiring employees to return to the office more frequently. According to data analytics firm Placer.ai, US office visits last month were 68.8% of August 2019 levels, slightly down from July’s 72.2%. This marks a steady increase from August 2022, when office attendance was just 55.9%.