By Jessica DiNapoli

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Accounting and consulting firm PwC told Reuters it will allow all of its 40,000 U.S. client services employees to work virtually and live anywhere they want in perpetuity, making it one of the biggest employers to embrace permanent remote work.

It is an departure from rigid accounting practices that encourage people to stay up late in the office. Deloitte (KPMG) and KPMG have given their employees greater flexibility to work remotely as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Yolanda Seals, PwC’s deputy people leaders, stated in an interview that PwC was the first company in the industry to offer full-time virtual work to clients services staff. PwC support staff, as well as employees working in legal and human resource areas that don’t face clients have the opportunity to work remotely.

Seals-Coffield explained that virtual workers at PwC would only be allowed to visit the office three times per month to meet with clients, have team meetings or learn from one another.

Seals-Coffield explained that “we have learned a lot through the pandemic,” and that virtual work, which is an evolution in flexibility, would be a natural next move. If you’re a client service employee and in good standing, then you have the right to do so.

Seals-Coffield stated that location does not affect the pay of employees at PwC. She added that employees who choose to work part-time in a low-cost area would have their wages decrease.

Google (NASDAQ): Google also bases its employees’ salaries on where they work. Permanent workers who are able to stay at home could earn less.

Since March 2020, the majority of white-collar U.S. workers have worked from home. The CEOs are faced with the challenge of bringing back employees, while weighing their preferences and management styles against potential risks like more contagious COVID-19 variants or workers refusing to take vaccines.

In a memo sent to employees, PwC stated that this policy is being implemented to retain and attract talent. PwC partners who work in-office regularly won’t be allowed to work remotely.

Seals-Coffield stated that “we’re confident” we can manage mixed teams. PwC research indicates that between 30% and 35% of eligible workers will accept the offer. PwC currently has over 55,000 U.S. workers. The new policy will allow them to virtually work if needed.

Seals-Coffield indicated that PwC will not make significant changes in its real property footprint because of this new policy. Without elaborating, Seals-Coffield said the company plans to change how it uses its office space and work more together.

PwC offers consulting and auditing services as well as accounting services. Seals-Coffield answered a question about the impact of PwC’s new policy on its clients’ advice. He said that organizations have been determining how to tackle this topic “in ways which work for their workers.”

PwC revealed in June that it was going to hire 100,000 people for jobs related to climate and diversity reporting. The company currently has 284,000 employees around the world.

In June, Deloitte announced that its British employees would have the option to work remotely in the future.