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PwC to start tracking employee location data in the UK

PwC to start tracking employee location data in the UK

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September 09, 2024

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Top story: PwC UK to start tracking location data to enforce office attendance

Source: Getty Images

PwC Tightens Hybrid Rules: UK employees must now be in the office at least three days a week, up from a flexible two-to-three day guideline, to strengthen in-person collaboration and client relationships.

Data-Driven Compliance: Starting January, PwC will track and share employee location data monthly to ensure adherence to the new policy, aiming for consistency across the firm.

Broader Trend in Action: PwC joins other corporate giants like IBM, Amazon, and Zoom in scaling back remote work to balance flexibility with business needs and effective teamwork.

The work-from-home honeymoon might be over for PwC UK employees.

Starting January 1, PwC is tightening its hybrid work rules, telling its 26,000 UK employees to be in the office at least three days a week. That’s up from the somewhat vague “two to three days” guideline that people often took as, “Maybe I’ll show up, maybe I won’t.”

Why the shift? PwC’s leadership says it’s all about building those all-important face-to-face relationships. In a memo shared with CNN, the company laid it out: being together in person is key for strong client relations, learning, and coaching. In simple terms, PwC thinks too much WFH means weaker team bonds and less effective mentoring.

To make sure everyone’s sticking to the new rules, PwC is bringing in monthly “location data” reports. Yep, they’ll be tracking where you work and sharing that info back with you—kind of like your work hours or chargeable hours data. Not quite Big Brother, but close. If you're not showing up enough, they’ll be checking in to understand why.

Laura Hinton, PwC UK's managing partner, doubled down on the move, saying it feels right for their "people business" focused on client service and growth. However, PwC isn’t ditching hybrid work altogether. They still promise some flexibility, just with a bit more emphasis on showing up in person.

This news isn't shocking if you’ve been following the corporate world lately. From IBM to Amazon, companies everywhere have been reining in the WFH perks that flourished during the pandemic. Even Zoom (yes, Zoom!) has told its staff to get back to the office.

Looks like work-from-couch days are dwindling.