For the first time, one of the largest accountancy firms in the United Kingdom will close the majority of its offices between Christmas and New Year to save on energy costs.
PwC, which employs approximately 24,000 people, will close its main London office and several smaller sites from December 23 to January 3.
Kevin Ellis, the company’s chairman, stated that keeping all offices open over the holiday season “makes no sense in a time of energy shortage.”
PwC has 19 offices in the United Kingdom
The majority of employees will be on vacation throughout the holiday season, but the Covid epidemic has made working from home the norm.
Mr. Ellis stated that employees desired that the business “do our part to reduce energy consumption.
“The office environment is crucial to our culture and company,” he stated. In a time of energy scarcity, it seems illogical to keep all of our offices open during the Christmas season.
“We’ve adopted a sensible approach, ensuring that some offices remain open across the country for people who require them,” he added.
The accountancy and consulting firm stated that its regional offices, which are located in places such as Edinburgh, Belfast, and Newcastle, would adopt a “similar strategy” to its Embankment Place headquarters.
Some regional offices will designate particular places for workers to use, according to an internal memorandum. The workspace will be provided at the company’s More London headquarters for personnel based in the capital.
PwC has given its employees a great deal of freedom over their working schedules, including the option to begin work whenever they choose.
“Opportunity to refuel”
PwC is not the only one of the so-called “big four” accounting firms to close during the holiday season.
Deloitte has closed its offices throughout the holiday season for several years. All of its offices in the United Kingdom will close on December 23 and reopen on January 3.
Meanwhile, KPMG announced that it will close its UK offices during the same period as in the past.
“This is an important opportunity for our employees to spend time with their friends and families, as well as to recharge,” a representative explained.
During that time, our offices will only be available to a restricted number of individuals who have a business-critical requirement and cannot work remotely.
PwC’s action follows a warning by Enel, one of the world’s major energy companies, that it “would take years” for energy costs to return to the pre-Russian invasion of Ukraine levels.
As a result of the conflict, global energy prices have skyrocketed as countries, particularly the EU, seek to reduce their dependence on Russian gas and oil.
To lessen the risk of blackouts, National Grid has offered reductions on electricity bills to residential and commercial customers who reduce peak-hour consumption on a few days during the winter.
