Deloitte has given its 20,000 UK staff the option of working from home (or wherever they want) forever, even after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Richard Houston, Senior Partner and Chief Executive of Deloitte UK, said the accounting firm will not make it compulsory for employees to work for a set number of days from office or specific locations,
Some 15,000 Deloitte staff responded to an internal survey about the future of work at the Big Four firm, with more than 80 per cent of those saying they expected to work from a Deloitte office for two days or fewer per week.
More than 90 per cent of Deloitte’s workforce said ‘choice’ and ‘flexibility’ should be at the heart of how the business operates in future.
Deloitte senior partner and chief executive Richard Houston said: “The impact of the pandemic has profoundly changed our way of life, not least in the way we work. The last year has really shown that one size does not fit all when it comes to balancing work and personal lives.
“It has also shown that we can trust our people to make the right choice in when, how and where they work.”
He continued: “Once the Government has lifted all of the Covid-19 restrictions and we’re back up to full office capacity, we will let our people choose where they need to be to do their best work, in balance with their professional and personal responsibilities.
However, Deloitte is also considering whether staff can work abroad for a period in the future, the report said.
Deloitte said when restrictions are eased its offices will principally be used for team collaboration, training and client meetings.
The other Big Four accounting firms – KPMG, PwC and EY – have said employees must go to the office two-three days a week.
