Deloitte has reportedly informed its employees in the US tax division that annual bonus will be linked to office attendance. According to a Financial Times report, Deloitte employees are expected to be in the office for 50 per cent of the working week at least. The policy shift mirrors similar actions by other Big Four firms, including PwC and EY, as well as tech giant Google, which also linked office attendance to performance metrics.
According to a message sent to US tax staff and seen by the Financial Times, Deloitte stated, “Being present at a Deloitte office or client site will now be considered in your … performance evaluations.” The email, sent by Katie Zinn, the tax practice’s chief talent officer, further specified that staff should, “ensure in-person collaboration 2-3 days (50%) weekly.”
Confirming the policy change for US tax staff, a spokesperson said “Deloitte performs a tremendous range of work for our clients across many industries. Our hybrid model is not one-sized-fits-all. Our model is designed for clients, businesses, team leaders and professionals to co-locate when it matters most to the performance of our work and the development and wellbeing of our professionals.”
Deloitte’s hybrid policy takes a back seat
This move marks a departure from Deloitte’s standard hybrid policy, which offers flexibility to the majority of its 460,000 employees. The company’s official hybrid policy, established three years ago, emphasizes trust and autonomy, stating:
“The golden rule of our hybrid policy is that our people are trusted to decide how they work, in a way that works for their clients and colleagues too. We’ve seen the benefits of keeping the flexibility of hybrid and remote working without losing the opportunities to connect and collaborate in-person.”
As per a company insider, Deloitte’s US employees track their working location using a mix of badge swipes and timesheets. Many employers also monitor staff whereabouts by checking the location of computer logins.
Google, PwC and others implements stricter attendance policy
Deloitte is not alone in linking office attendance with performance. Google began the practice in 2023, telling staff that their compliance with the three-day office requirement would be factored into their reviews.
Meanwhile, companies like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs have gone further, mandating five days of in-office work per week. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has been blunt, stating that those who disagree with the mandate can “find work elsewhere.”
Other Big Four firms have also introduced new measures around office attendance. Last year, EY reportedly let go of staff members found to be attending simultaneous training sessions during the annual Ignite Learning Week.
EY staff are required to complete a set number of courses to earn credit points for career progression. However, some employees were attending overlapping sessions to gain double points. Those dismissed insisted the double attendance was due to scheduling conflicts, not an attempt to bypass requirements.
PwC also implemented stricter attendance policies. In September, the firm informed its 26,000 U.K. employees that, starting in January 2025, they would need to be in the office or at client sites at least three days a week, or 60% of their time.
To monitor compliance, PwC plans to track office visits similarly to how it tracks billable hours. Employees will receive monthly reports of their “individual working location data,” which will also be shared with their internal career coaches.