BDO to adopt a more ‘flexible way of working’

BDO has announced that it will be moving to a more “flexible way of working” by allowing its staff to choose to work where they are “most productive”.

The news follows a recent staff survey which found that 79% of respondents preferred to either work from home or have a hybrid working model after the pandemic.

The firm said it will initially invest £8m into refitting its offices to create “vibrant hubs” to support the new ways of working.

In addition, the group has also committed to increasing its technology spend by £10m over the next three years to ensure staff have access to “all the kit they need”, whether working from a hub office or at home.

The company is the latest Big Four accountancy firm to adopt a hybrid working model, following on from KPMG who recently revealed that from June onwards, its 16,000 strong workforce will work at the office four days each fortnight.

A BDO spokesperson said: “As lockdown restrictions ease we’ve been listening to our people, talking to our clients and thinking about the best way to return to the office in a way which balances well-being with work.

“We see post-Covid working as being neither solely office-based or home-based. Instead we will ask our people to work where they are most productive according to the task. For most, that will be a mix of office hubs, home and client sites.”

They added: “Following this tough year we also want to say thank you to our people by offering them either an additional week’s pay or additional week’s holiday. Taken together, these investments seek to reward staff for their hard work and to ensure our business is in the best shape to help our people and our clients succeed.”