The firm said this would 'ensure that the new policy is being fairly and consistently applied across our business', the  FT  reports.

She acknowledged that everyone at the company 'benefits' from a hybrid working policy, but that previous guidance was 'open to interpretation'.

The Big Four, Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC, are all having to find ways to cope with a market slowdown.

As well as cracking down on office hours, PwC also warned staff in July to expect lower bonuses and pay rises this year.

It has also restricted staff from taking a half day on Friday, which was a pandemic perk.

In her memo, Ms Hinton argued relationships are 'more easily built and sustained face-to-face'.

She added it provides a better client experience and learning environment for staff.

On average, employees in London still spend just 2.7 days in the officer per week - compared to 3.5 in Paris and 3.1 in London.