Return-to-Office Trends to Watch
Workplace expectations continue to shift as organizations refine how they manage attendance and compliance. Companies are adopting new tools and approaches to ensure policies are being followed, while also navigating the balance between trust, flexibility, and oversight. These changes highlight the evolving dynamics of the modern workplace and what employees can expect moving forward.
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PwC UK’s New System: Traffic-light-style attendance tracking
PwC UK has rolled out a traffic-light-style dashboard to enforce its return-to-office (RTO) policy, according to the Financial Times. The system tracks employee badge swipes and wi-fi data to monitor attendance, issuing an “amber” rating for staff below 60% in-office attendance and a “red” rating for those below 40%. Employees and senior leadership, including the CFO, chief administrative officer, and chief people officer, can view the data.
The policy requires staff to be in the office or at client sites at least three days per week. To verify client-site work, the dashboard cross-checks wi-fi data with time sheet systems like Workday. Exemptions are available for “life events and unforeseen circumstances.”
In a video message, PwC UK’s chief people officer, Phillippa O’Connor, acknowledged concerns about the system’s alignment with the firm’s emphasis on “trust” and “empowerment,” but said it was designed to address “persistent and deliberate non-compliance.”
PwC is not alone in its approach. EY UK is also using swipe card data to track attendance, and broader trends suggest stricter enforcement of RTO policies across industries. A CBRE survey found that 69% of companies are now monitoring office visits, up from 45% the year prior. Data from Placer.ai also shows office visits have slightly increased in both 2024 and 2025.
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