PwC India gives entire staff bonus for pandemic resilience
PwC India will add an extra two-weeks’ pay to the March 2021 salaries of its entire 15,000 workforce – a token of appreciation for the team’s rallying efforts during the pandemic.
A statement noted that this one-time bonus is separate from PwC’s annual appraisal and increment process – which will continue on its usual timeline. Recently appointed chairman Sanjeev Krishan explained how this particular pay-out is a nod to the firm’s resilience at a time of unprecedented challenges.
“Responding to the crisis with extreme agility and ensuring business continuity for all was paramount and we are very proud of and humbled by the way all our people got together and ensured that we and our clients not only navigate the crisis well, but also emerge stronger from it.”
“It is because of their efforts that even in such an extremely difficult year, we are on course to meet our goals and are optimistic about the year ahead. We are extremely happy to share this success with our people through this token of appreciation.”
The bonus is also a symbol of gratitude to the families of PwC employees, for providing support when the workload was even heavier than usual. “We thank them for being a part of the extended PwC family,” said Krishan.
Covid-19 measures
Long hours aside, many had to grapple with a financial hit in early 2020 – when all Big Four accounting advisory firms adjusted their cost base to contend with a revenue dip and eroding cash flows. PwC’s response at the time was to defer bonuses and increments, while all partners in India took a 25% pay cut.
The PwC Chairman Shyamal Mukherjee had expressed pride at the understanding of the firm’s staff, and expressed his commitment to keeping them “safe and engaged in this difficult period.” Per the statement, PwC has since taken several measures to support employees during the pandemic – including a specialised Covid-19 insurance to cover employees and one set of parents.
With remote working stretching out longer than expected, the firm also introduced occasional Pens Down Days – a mandatory break for employees to avoid burnout while working from home. The latest payout is another symbol of support, and possibly a signal that things are on the mend financially.