EY

London

Total Offices: 17

314,640 Total Employees

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What's the Work-Life Balance Like at EY?

Updated on September 08, 2026

This page summarizes recurring themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about EY and has not been reviewed or approved by EY.

What's the work-life balance like at EY?

Strengths in hybrid flexibility, mental-health support, and post-peak recovery are accompanied by challenges tied to deadline-driven peaks, variable staffing, and practical barriers to taking time off. Together, these dynamics suggest balance is achievable in calmer periods but can swing sharply with client demands and team context.

Key Insight for Candidates

Defining tradeoff: EY’s flexibility and wellbeing supports give way to deadline‑driven “busy seasons” that reliably trigger sustained long hours. This structural cyclicality, not individual manager preference, shapes the experience. Candidates should plan life and PTO around peaks and confirm how teams protect recovery time afterward.

Evidence in Action

Team-led Hybrid Model — The EY@Work, team-led, leader-enabled hybrid model sets when and where work happens. It reduces commute strain and lets teams schedule in-office time around client needs, improving day-to-day balance outside peaks.
Deadline-Driven Busy Seasons — In busy season, Audit and Tax run 50–70+ hour weeks, with occasional 80+ hour spikes, per recurring employee feedback. Employees face sustained evening and weekend work during peaks, then regain balance in lighter off-season weeks.

Positive Themes About EY

Remote or Hybrid Flexibility: Hybrid work is framed as team-led and leader-enabled, emphasizing “how you work, not where you sit” and allowing many roles to operate in a flexible, hybrid setup. This approach can smooth day-to-day balance when client timelines allow.
Mental Health Support: Mental-health resources such as counseling through EY Assist and other wellbeing initiatives are prominently offered. These supports are positioned to help employees sustain wellbeing and recover after intense periods.
Recovery Time: Outside peak periods, many teams describe more standard weeks and the ability to disconnect. Some groups protect downtime after filings, providing space to recharge before the next cycle.

Considerations About EY

Time Pressure: Audit and Tax face deadline-driven peaks where hours rise around filings and major deliverables. Client commitments can override flexibility during these stretches, increasing evening and weekend work.
Workload or Staffing: Workload varies widely by service line, client mix, and staffing, with larger or multiple concurrent engagements driving heavier stretches. The experience can swing significantly by team and office, making predictability uneven.
Barriers to Time Off: Flexible vacation and hybrid policies exist, but actual time away often depends on utilization, client calendars, and manager approval. Policy intent does not always translate to relief during peak cycles.

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These insights are generated using AI and may not reflect internal data or verified company information. They are intended solely for general informational purposes and should not be considered a definitive assessment of the company’s reputation. If you are a representative of this company, and would like this page to be removed, you may contact us via this form.