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KPMG offers staff 'four-day fortnight' in hybrid work plans

Professional services firm has based its plans on employee feedback

6 May 2021

KPMG has said it will introduce a hybrid working strategy that includes a 'four-day fortnight' and a £44 million investment into collaboration space and remote working technology.

The 'four-day fortnight' is a flexible approach to time in the office, with employees able to spread four 'in-office' days across two weeks that can be used for in-person collaborative work and training.

The 16,000 employees who work for the professional services giant were consulted on the plans in March, with a majority expressing a desire to continue working remotely. A majority (87%) of respondents said they enjoyed not having to commute, while 76% said they enjoyed the greater flexibility working from home offered.

"We trust our people," said Jon Holt, chief executive of KPMG. "Our new way of working will empower them and enable them to design their own working week. The pandemic has proven it's not about where you work, but how you work. We have listened to our people and designed this strategy around our staff and how they can best support our clients."

KPMG has taken a similar stance to Salesforce by fully embracing hybrid work, but not all large employers are open to the strategy. Global bank Goldman Sachs will reportedly force its UK workforce to return to the office from the middle of June. The company's chief executive recently described home working as an "aberration".

There are also firms that are cautiously exploring the idea, such as Google, which announced an update on Wednesday. The tech giant said it expects 60% of its employees will be on-site for a few days a week, with 20% working in new office locations. The remaining 20% will be able to work from home, pending approval from their line manager.