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HUMAN RESOURCES

but those opportunities could be lost if women “We want people to have the option to be
work remotely, she added. visible, as some people want to connect a little bit
more,” said Baltimore-based Lisa Johnson, CPA,
HYBRID WAYS OF WORKING a principal at the firm. Some of the newer staff,
Squire gradually welcomed employees back into she added, acclimate better when they spend some
the office as workers have expressed a desire to do time in the office.
so and as vaccines became available. Like many Only about 10 employees now come into the
firms, Squire doesn’t yet have a formal hybrid plan, office once or twice a week at Caron & Bletzer
and most employees come into the office as they PLLC, said John Bletzer, CPA, the partner in
please, or if they need to be there for one reason or charge of the Employee Benefit Assurance Practice
another. Women have expressed a stronger desire and Quality Control. The firm employs about 25
to continue to work remotely, in comparison to CPAs and is based in Kingston, N.H. The rest,
Squire’s male employees who prefer more time in Bletzer said, choose to work from home. “It’s just
the office, but “almost everybody is coming in once different,” he said. “You’ve got to monitor your
in a while,” Bullock said. employees differently and engage them differently.”
At mid-Atlantic public accounting firm Gross, EisnerAmper, with more than 2,200 global
Mendelsohn & Associates, most employees have employees, is “allowing people to continue to make
also embraced a hybrid workplace, though it’s not their own choices [about where to work] until at
an official policy. least April 30, 2022,” said Philadelphia-based Lori
Reiner, CPA, EisnerAmper’s chief people officer.
“The positive [of hybrid working] is flexibility,
especially when raising a young family.”
AICPA RESOURCES Public accounting firm Cherry Bekaert, which
employs more than 1,200, is fully remote or
Articles
hybrid and is discussing whether or not to adopt
“Changing Ways of Working Call for Changing Employment and Tax a hybrid model, said Dixie McCurley, a principal
Policy,” JofA, Nov. 12, 2021 in the firm’s Digital Advisory Practice in Atlanta.
“Top Firm Challenges in Unprecedented Times,” Oct. 12, 2021 (free to PCPS Working remotely “has leveled the playing field a
members) lot” and has benefited women in the firm who need
“Finding the Best Talent Using Remote Interviews,” JofA, July 1, 2021 more flexibility, she said.
McCurley and others say that to retain top
“Tips to Conquer the Next New Normal,” June 29, 2021 (free to PCPS members)
employees, organizations need to embrace a remote
“How to Develop and Excel in a Hybrid Workspace,” FM magazine, June 17, or hybrid model since workers are now request-
2021 ing it. This fact has necessitated dialogue at many
“Companies Rethink The Office, but They’re Not Ready to Say Goodbye,” public accounting firms.
JofA, Nov. 4, 2020 “This is a talent market, and partners that are re-
Publication sistant to change will possibly lose some of their top
talent that have been working for them for decades
AICPA Sponsorship Success Toolkit
as many other firms are hiring remote or hybrid
talent for the same positions,” McCurley suggested.

IN BRIEF in a firm’s physical office, where to make the hybrid model work, from
organizational leaders may notice boosting fun, online activities to
■ The hybrid working model sounds them more, may receive more praise installing more technology.
great for accountants, but it comes and more promotions than those who ■ Emotionally intelligent leadership
with several challenges that accounting work from home. This is a potential is critical in a hybrid working
firms may have never had to deal with problem, particularly affecting environment. Top leaders must
before. women. work out kinks to reduce inequities
■ Employees who choose to work ■ Firms are taking a range of measures throughout the organization.

To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Courtney Vien at Courtney.Vien@aicpa-cima.com.

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