Amanda Goodall, leadership development coach, and startup advisor, took to X this week to highlight a policy change by Deloitte that she believes could have far-reaching consequences for the consulting industry. In her post, Goodall noted that Deloitte has asked its staff in India to work from the office at least two days a week from October 1, warning that failure to comply could affect performance reviews.
“Most don’t care about RTO for India… but this is super important to see what is happening in India with offshoring. If Deloitte proves RTO in India keeps quality high at low or lower costs when backfilling jobs from those that don’t comply… clients will demand the same from Accenture, PwC, Infosys, Wipro, TCS, etc.,” she said via her X handle. That means even less demand for high-cost U.S./EU consultants. So yes… you should care, Goodall added.
While on the surface the mandate might appear to be a routine return-to-office (RTO) measure, Goodall argued it could reshape the economics of global consulting. If Deloitte manages to demonstrate that in-office work in India delivers the same quality at a lower cost, she suggested, clients may insist that other firms such as Accenture, PwC, Infosys, Wipro and TCS follow suit. That, in turn, would reduce the demand for higher-cost consultants in the US and Europe.
RTO linked to performance in the US and India
Deloitte’s India directive comes at a time when the firm is tightening attendance rules globally. In the US, staff in the tax division were recently told that office presence would directly affect their annual bonuses. An internal email from Katie Zinn, Chief Talent Officer for Deloitte’s tax practice, informed employees that they are expected to spend at least half of the working week in the office or at client sites.
“Being present at a Deloitte office or client site will now be considered in your performance evaluations,” Zinn wrote in the message, which was first reported by the Financial Times. The firm tracks attendance through badge swipes, time sheets and system logins.
Broader crackdown on remote work
Deloitte’s move follows similar actions by large financial institutions. JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon has been outspoken against remote work, while Wells Fargo last year dismissed employees found to be faking online activity. Corporate leaders argue that in-person collaboration is essential for productivity, client service and mentoring younger staff.