PwC Canada gives employees five extra paid days off
PwC Canada has given its 7,300 employees an extra five paid time off (PTO) days in spring/summer, according to a post on the accounting and consulting firm’s LinkedIn page.
“At PwC Canada, now more than ever, we understand the importance of our people’s wellbeing,” the Toronto-based firm said on LinkedIn. “We know that taking a break to rest and recharge has clear benefits such as lowered stress and better mental health. So, we’re closing our doors and giving everyone five extra-long weekends this spring/summer to step back and disconnect. No meetings, no video calls, no emails! #BeWellWorkWell”
The mode response by commenters was “Great initiative,” with several adding an exclamation point.
The Big Four firms all made similar announcements this month, give or take a couple PTO days. KPMG, for example, gave its employees seven extra paid days off in July and August.
The Big Four firms and larger mid-market accountancies (BDO, Grant Thornton, RSM) tend to keep their compensation and benefits within a reasonable distance of one another to prevent unusual rates of attrition.
PwC Canada also recently highlighted its updated family benefits in a January post on LinkedIn. Those benefits include a 17-week family leave top up (non-birth and adoptive parents included); $20,000 in fertility, adoption, and surrogacy coverage; hybrid and flex work arrangements; and a $2,500 enhanced mental health benefit to support parents’ pre- and post-natal mental health.
Professional services firms, like many other industries, are facing labour challenges as historically high resignation rates and scarcity of skilled workers force them to upgrade compensation and benefit packages. According to a Robert Half survey, Canadian business leaders are offering remote options (47%), higher salaries (46%), signing bonuses (30%), and more paid time off (29%) in a bid to attract talent.
