Top Professional Services Networks Firm Wants Company Employees 'Back to Work' - Report!

One of the leading professional services networks globally - PwC have encouraged its staff members to return to work on a voluntary basis. 

According to the Sunday Times report, Kevin Ellis, chair of accountancy firm PwC said he hopes to have around half of the company’s employees back at work by next month. PwC, currently has more than 22,000 staff across the UK. 

Giving clarity over his comment, Ellis said the age of presenteeism-the fear of leaving your work desk has been annihilated by the pandemic as employees work from home. COVID-19 has also "bashed away presenteeism for ever”. Also, PwC would look to slash office attendance from five days a week to three or four days a week as a result of the pandemic, Sunday Times further reported. 

With rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, PwC has 20 UK offices, including two in London in Embankment and Southwark.

Further highlighting employees showing interest in returning to work, Ellis said employees were keen to return to work after months of lockdown to get out the house and support local businesses. “Just because you can work from home, doesn’t mean you should. There are other factors; mental health and stress ones — our average age is 31 — but also the local communities," he added.

PwC makes this statement as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson encouraged staff to “enter discussions” with their employers to start returning to work. The move made a significant shake-up to guidance that has been in place for more than four months due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. 

While announcing the change, the UK PM said: “We are going to give employers more discretion. That could mean of course continuing to work from home, which is one way of working safely and which has worked for many employers and employees.Or it could mean making workplaces safe by following Covid-secure guidelines.”

"Offices will see extra cleaning routines, socially distanced desks, and screens and floor markings across office floors," he added.