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‘Instead of putting

money into brick and

mortar, we’re putting

money into software.’

John Bletzer, CPA, partner at Caron & Bletzer, where most
employees are working from home most days of the week

LOOKING AHEAD Many firm representatives say the onus also falls
Most public accounting firms have conducted on CPAs and other employees to be proactive about
employee surveys to gauge how staff feel about work their own career development.
going forward. And for now, most firms are entrust- “We are hearing that employees are not talking
ing their professional staff to operate in locations that about their career plans as often as they were before
generate productivity while offering flexibility. they were remote,” Bullock said.
But employee surveys are not enough. Top “You have to be intentional and make sure people
leaders must also work out “hybrid” kinks to reduce know who you are,” Reiner said. “Regardless of your
inequities throughout the organization, Cappelli gender, you do have to take control of your career
said, asking such pointed questions as, “Who gets and make opportunities happen — and it’s harder to
to work remotely? What, if anything, do we do for do that solely in front of your computer.”
employees who don’t get to work from home? How Despite the hurdles ahead, Bullock advises
much control should employees have over when and other CPA firms to embrace hybrid as a positive
how much they can work from home? Do we require development, which “will increase the stickiness
everyone to be in the office on certain days?” In other and retention of employees and will give people
words, policies must be established to ensure consis- the opportunity to find the most efficient way
tency and to avoid divisions within the company. to work,” she said. “Stop trying to fight against
Firms should also “spend more time monitoring why hybrid shouldn’t work, and step back and say,
productivity” each month and year because some ‘What is going to work?’ and build on that. Hybrid
employees do not do well in a remote setting, is here to stay.” ■
Bletzer suggested. Firms should increase their
scheduled internal meetings because communicat-
ing remotely “is not as natural as when you are
together in person,” he said.

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