"Earlier this month, news broke that Big Four firm PwC UK was increasing its monitoring of employees' office attendance by tracking key card usage and WiFi connections to ensure staff comply with in-office requirements. Monitoring office key cards is not a new practice, nor is it unique to PwC UK; it is a typical practice across most businesses. However, due to the nature of this business, especially its consultancy arm, associates and partners, when requested, often work from their clients' offices."
"As part of the attendance dashboard system, PwC is tracking work laptop WiFi connections, which indicate whether staff members are at their client's office. For a firm, like most of the Big Four firms, struggling with its profitability issues and the problems arising from the surge in AI, it is not surprising that the firm is getting stricter with its staff."
Businesses are tightening pandemic-era support measures and enforcing stronger in-office requirements as economic pressures mount. Many companies are rescinding flexible work arrangements and calling staff back full-time. Some employers characterize remote workers as less productive, fueling stricter attendance enforcement. Major firms are increasing digital and physical monitoring, including tracking key-card swipes, WiFi connections and laptop activity to verify on-site presence. Consultancy staff often work at client sites, complicating attendance tracking. Profitability challenges and disruptive technologies like AI are motivating firms to monitor employee behavior more closely. Such monitoring practices raise tensions between operational oversight and employee privacy rights.
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