Work-from-home rules are holding back young workers, says PwC boss

PwC's chief executive Marco Amitrano has cautioned that work-from-home policies introduced during the Covid pandemic are hindering the career progression of young British workers. While policies were well-intentioned, Amitrano claims they have resulted in adverse consequences. He attributes the issue partly to the increased focus on mental health and wellbeing, which has exacerbated the problem by placing employees out of sight and control.

To address this, several leading companies are urging staff to return to the office, with PwC mandating that employees be present at work or with clients three days a week. Other firms, such as Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays, have also increased their workforce's presence in the office. However, the government is considering legislation that would require companies to provide a valid reason for denying a work-from-home request.

Amitrano's concerns come as there is growing worry about young people leaving the workforce or being unable to enter it. In the UK, roughly a million individuals aged 16-24 are not in employment, education, or training (NEETs). Despite this, PwC reduced its graduate intake to 1,300 from 1,500 in the previous year, citing challenging market conditions.

Amitrano emphasized that while the firm has maintained its commitment to hiring young people and took on 1,300 graduates this year, the NEET rate has become a significant concern.