Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) has taken a big step in the hybrid worker department, announcing that it will allow 40,000 U.S. employees to work remotely from anywhere in the continental U.S. I worked for then Coopers and Lybrand just before the merger took place and even then they had a model that lent itself to remote work. Our office had fixed offices for staff that was there all the time, and we had “hotel space” for those of us that were in the office periodically. If the hotel was full, there was usually someone working in the kitchen. It was the early days of the internet and if we had the tools we have today, there wouldn’t have been a need to come in for most staff.
They have a workforce of 55,000, which means almost every employee will have the option. This move would allow their employees to adjust better and respond more efficienctly to their own challenges. For PwC, flexibility and the well-being of their employees are at the center of policy.
PwC employees who choose to work virtually would have to come into the office a maximum of three days a month for in-person appointments such as critical team meetings, client visits and learning sessions, Seals-Coffield said. However, some employees might see a pay decrease because of this.
Remote Work Win Win
Remote work has been an overwhelming success for both employees and employers. The shift in positive attitudes toward remote work is evident: 83% of employers now say the shift to remote work has been successful for their company, compared to 73% in our June 2020 survey.
According to some studies, over half of employees (55%) would prefer to be remote at least three days a week once pandemic concerns recede.
PwC’s deputy people leader, Yolanda Seals-Coffield, said in an interview that the firm was the first in its industry to make full-time virtual work available to client services employees. But employees in other areas will also have the opportunity, such as consultants, auditors and tax professionals. The firm claims the move is the first among professional services firms to offer a permanent work-from-anywhere policy moving forward.
