Monday, February 10, 2025

Big Four Firms Advise Reduced Work Travel, Use Public Transport

The Big Four firms Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG have advised employees to reduce business travel and prioritize virtual meetings to save costs and address environmental concerns, according to a report by Money Control.

Big Four firms are urging employees to limit trips, including client visits, in favor of online collaboration. For unavoidable travel, employees are encouraged to use public transportation like trains whenever practical.

The shift has been implemented over the past few months.

Case Studies of Reduced Travel

In one example, a firm won a global client based in Japan. Traditionally, such engagements would involve multiple partners and staff traveling to the client’s location. This time, only one partner traveled, while others participated remotely, sources revealed.

Partners in these Big Four firms are senior professionals responsible for strategy and profit-sharing. Their roles often require client-facing work, which makes some travel unavoidable. However, most internal meetings have now moved online to reduce costs and emissions.

Another instance highlighted an internal event held near Delhi. While air travel was approved for employees traveling from cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru, those based in Delhi were instructed to use trains.

Asha Ramanathan, Chief Operating Officer at PwC India, stated that their net-zero program promotes greener choices. “We encourage virtual collaboration, consolidating meetings, and using low-emission options such as trains and electric vehicles where possible,” she said.

Cost and Environmental Benefits

Work-related travel is a significant expense for these firms, making these changes both financially and environmentally beneficial.

According to Money Control, many partners acknowledge that building client relationships often requires in-person interaction. “Spending time with clients helps establish trust and rapport, which is essential for long-term relationships,” one partner noted.

Still, they emphasized the importance of balancing these interactions with sustainability goals.

Broader Strategy and Future Outlook

Emails sent to Deloitte, EY, and KPMG for comments were reportedly unanswered. However, environmental commitments and cost-cutting efforts appear to be key motivators behind these policies. The firms have set net-zero targets, and reducing travel aligns with their broader strategy to achieve these goals.

In this news, Money Control previously reported that Deloitte initiated a restructuring process in India last year. As part of this effort, 35 senior partners were offered early retirement through a voluntary program. This initiative aimed to streamline operations across various divisions, including audit, consulting, and financial advisory.

The move to limit travel reflects an ongoing trend in the consulting industry, where firms balance traditional practices with modern demands for efficiency and sustainability.


Note: We are also on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Google News, and YouTube, to get the latest news updates, Subscribe to our Channels. WhatsApp– Click HereGoogle News– Click HereYouTube – Click Here, and LinkedIn– Click Here.

Editorial

Deloitte, PWC, EY, KPMG to Hire 1 Lakh People in India in FY25

According to estimates from top company officials and industry...

Higher EPS Pension Application Stuck: A Step-by-Step Guide to Fix

Nearly 97,640 Provident Fund (PF) members and pensioners under...

Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG Outpace Global Growth for India Divisions

The Indian divisions of Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG...

EPS-95 Higher Pension Update: Less Than 1% Cases Settled So Far

Supreme Court Ruling and EPFO’s Higher Pension Rollout The Employees’...

Strong Job Growth and Salary Increases Expected in IT Sector

India's IT sector is on track for significant growth,...

Must Read

IBM offers free job-ready Digital & AI Courses through IBM SkillsBuild

As vulnerable communities worldwide continue to suffer the outsized...

Human Resources Budget-2021, Challenges Post COVID-19

Human Resources Budget- 2021, Challenges Post COVID-19 We all come...

TCS Hiring: hundreds of freshers & lateral jobs; Explore Here!

A global leader in IT services Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is...

Hero Vired appoints Geetika Goel as Head of Technology

Hero Vired, an e-learning provider company has announced the...

Is leadership a rare virtue?

I am sure, this statement must have surprised many...

Cathay Pacific Airways appoints Abhijit Abhyankar as Regional Head- HR

Cathay Pacific, The Hong Kong-based airline, has elevated Abhijit...

CEEW Study Projects 10 Lakh Green Jobs in Odisha by 2030

A recent study by the Council on Energy, Environment...

Related Articles

SightsIn Plus
SightsIn Plushttps://sightsinplus.com/
SightsIn Plus is an India’s leading high-quality people-focused monthly HR Magazine and provides up-to-date HR News, Leadership Announcements, Best HR Practices and Insights by Global CHROs, CEOs, HR Advisors, Business Managers and HR Heads on topics of interest to HR professionals. To subscribe SightsIn Plus, HR Magazine please visit- https://sightsinplus.com/subscribe/