Top story: McKinsey considering more return-to-office for consultants

McKinsey is reevaluating its remote work policy, signaling a potential increase in the number of days North American staff may be expected to spend in the office. This consideration mirrors a broader trend among major firms aiming to rein in remote work. Recent town hall meetings in Miami and Boston hinted that even consultants who are “on the beach” might face new in-office expectations.

This news has stirred a mix of anxiety and curiosity among employees, many of whom have enjoyed the flexibility of working remotely unless client meetings require their presence. Senior partner Eric Kutcher reassured the team that any upcoming changes would represent a renewed set of expectations rather than a strict mandate. He emphasized that in-person collaboration enhances learning and strengthens client relationships—something McKinsey values highly.

McKinsey's deliberations come at a time when other industry giants are also making headlines. PwC has recently required UK employees to spend at least 60% of their work hours in the office, while Amazon’s CEO has mandated a full-time return starting in January. These moves have reignited the debate on flexible work arrangements, which became a norm during the pandemic.

Adding to the conversation, a recent survey revealed that remote workers may have sacrificed pay growth in the two years following the pandemic, while those in the office saw better compensation. McKinsey’s own research highlights that flexibility, especially remote work, is particularly important for women, who report increased productivity and reduced burnout when working from home.

As McKinsey navigates these potential changes, the implications could be significant—not just for its own workforce but also as a trendsetter for the consulting industry as it adapts to the evolving work landscape. Will McKinsey’s push for more in-person interaction reshape the future of work in consulting? Time will tell.

Read more here.

Gossip roundup

• Analyst gets a first class upgrade while their manager flies coach on the same flight

• Kansas University pays $200k to Deloitte Consulting for NIL athletic project

• Accenture to train 30k employees on AI with new Nvidia partnership

• Dating an MBB consultant kinda sucks

Let me guess: most companies don’t have mature supply chains but Accenture can help your supply chain mature?

• [NEW] OpenAI BizOps Lead, San Francisco, 8+ years of consulting experience, ~$265k

• Instacart Senior Associate of Corporate Strategy, Remote, 4+ years of consulting experience, ~$101-135k

• Netflix Deal Analysis Associate, LA, ~2+ years of consulting experience, Comp not shared

• AWS Corporate Strategy (Industrial), Major US Cities, ~5+ years of consulting experience, ~$133-220k

• Faire Strategy and Analytics Lead, Remote, Retail, ~5+ years of consulting experience, ~$151-207k

That’s all for now - we will circle back next week for another edition of So What? Use the poll below to tell us how we did 👇

It would be crazy not to tell a few of your consulting friends about this newsletter, right?

We’ll send you two pretty spicy McKinsey decks when you refer just one person. Use the link below to refer!