"PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is offering staff in Belfast voluntary redundancy, just six months after the last round of job losses at the company, the Belfast Telegraph understands.
Staff have not been officially informed that there is a voluntary redundancy process ongoing, with notification happening on an individual basis.
PwC is a major employer in Northern Ireland, with more than 3,700 staff working for the company here.
A PwC spokesperson said: "We have to keep the shape of our business under review to respond to changing client demand, attrition rates and new opportunities.
"Through limited targeted voluntary severance, we can continue to recruit at entry level and where different skills are needed."
The consultancy giant had a UK-wide round of job losses towards the end of 2023.
At that time, staff were invited to a company-wide virtual meeting, during which they were reassured that PwC had achieved what it needed to from the redundancy round.
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The Belfast Telegraph understands that no promises were made to staff in writing as to future rounds of redundancy.
In recent days, some members of staff in the PwC Operate team have been sent invitations for catch-up or feedback sessions with senior managers and company directors.
Representatives of HR have been present at these meetings, during which staff have been offered voluntary redundancy.
Some of the staff being offered these packages are described, in some cases, as having worked for the firm for one to two years.
A number of staff who turned down redundancy packages in the previous round are understood to be among those called to these meetings.
Staff offers of redundancy, which started at the beginning of the week, are continuing to arrive as of Thursday, June 6.
PwC in Belfast is based in the Merchant Square offices in the city centre. At the time it opened in 2021, it was the firm’s largest UK office space outside of London.
The company’s regional market leader in Northern Ireland, Caitroina McCusker, was appointed president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, May 31.
At the announcement of her appointment, Ms McCusker said: “Right now, businesses of all sizes face many well-documented challenges, but there is also a wealth of untapped potential in our economy.”
by zanark4
4 comments
Damn I worked there once. There was always too many sheep and not enough shepherds
Parasite of a firm
“Through limited targeted voluntary severance, we can continue to recruit at entry level and where different skills are needed.”
Shameless. Pay people off and get the grads in for a fraction of the cost
Worst job I ever had was with PWC. Surprised more people aren’t leaving voluntarily!