PwC has implemented a policy requiring its employees to work in the office or with clients for a minimum of three days per week, joining other companies tightening their workplace regulations.

Previously, the Big Four accountancy firm allowed its 26,000 employees to work in the office two to three days weekly.

Laura Hinton, managing partner at PwC, emphasized, “Face-to-face working is crucial for a people-oriented business like ours. This new policy shifts our working week towards being present with clients and colleagues.”

She added, “This approach aligns with our business needs and supports our emphasis on client service, coaching, and professional development, while still permitting hybrid working flexibility.” This shift comes as various companies increase office presence following a pandemic-driven boom in hybrid working, which transformed operational models and encouraged flexible work arrangements to retain talent.

Despite this transition, PwC has maintained its office spaces across 15 cities in the UK, indicating no plans for downsizing, even amid remote work.

This year, EY, a competitor, began monitoring employee office attendance using anonymized swipe-card data. Other major firms like Lloyds Bank, JP Morgan, HSBC, and Citigroup have similarly tightened their flexible work policies recently.

Deloitte, another rival, downsized its office footprint during the pandemic by closing branches in Gatwick, Liverpool, Nottingham, and Southampton. However, the firm has since expanded its office space in central London. Deloitte has given its employees the option to choose when to work from home after reducing its UK office capacity in response to rising remote work trends.

Kevin Ellis, former chairman of PwC UK, has spoken in favor of increased office attendance, stating, “The notion of being confined in a room with a screen isn’t appealing.” He advocates for younger employees to spend more time in the office to enhance their career prospects.

In addition to these policy changes, PwC announced it would be scaling back its popular summer initiative of early Friday finishes, reducing this benefit from eight weeks last year to just six weeks this year.

Moreover, Country Garden has reported that PwC will resign as its auditor, marking another Asian firm ending its association with the company. Country Garden has appointed Hong Kong-based Zhonghui Anda CPA as its new auditor until the next annual general meeting. PwC’s role in auditing China Evergrande Group has drawn scrutiny, especially amid allegations of a $78 billion fraud that resulted in significant client loss, cost-cutting, and job reductions.