Like any fast-track career, working at McKinsey can be intense. Our clients rely on us during their most challenging times, and we go to great lengths to exceed their expectations. But meeting our commitments doesn’t mean putting our personal needs and interests on hold.
Finding the right balance
While we all face the challenge of making time for our personal and professional priorities, we encourage each other to find the right balance. Our culture rewards intelligence and efficiency, not the amount of time someone puts into a project. Team leaders are evaluated, in part, on the quality of life they foster.
Our firm supports flexibility
If your goal is to advance your career and participate in a flex program, you've come to the right firm. All of our offices worldwide support career flexibility.
We are proud to report that 45 principals and directors have been elected while on flex programs. Meanwhile, more than 80 associate principals and 100 engagement managers have been designated while on part-time programs.
Also, at McKinsey, flex is not just a short-term option—approximately 40% of consultants participating in flex programs have been doing so for more than two years.
Reasons for creating flexibility
Consultants take advantage of our flexible working arrangements for a multitude of reasons.
For example, our consultants have created flexibility in their careers in order to:
- Experiment in different industries and functions
- Take extended leaves of absences or take off blocks of time between engagements
- Take externships and secondments (going on leave to work for an external organization for up to a year)
- Do gradual ramp ups or downs
- Shape their own program
- Experience global mobility
- Work a part-time schedule
Design your own flexibility program
Our flexibility options come in all shapes and sizes, and you’ll be encouraged to design a flex program that supports your personal and professional goals.
For example, you might choose to work fewer days per week or weeks per year, take extended time off between client engagements, or even broaden your experience by working for an external organization for up to a year.
Our new Take Time program is a flexible working model designed to provide all non-Partner consultants with the opportunity to take additional unpaid time off during the year. This time off can be used to pursue whatever your personal interests or passions may be outside of work: spend more time with family, pursue a community service passion, or complete that course you’ve been wanting to sign up for but just haven’t had the time. Consultants have two opportunities to sign up for Take Time throughout the year.
Resources for designing your flexibility program
Because everyone's needs are unique, we offer flexibility managers, professional development managers, and other experts to help you design your flexibility program.
You’ll also have access to our internal Flexibility website, where you can review flex options and even read about other consultants’ experiences.
Working parents at McKinsey
We have a long history of supporting the needs of working parents. In fact, Working Mother has ranked us as one of the 100 best companies for working mothers, and as one of the 10 best companies for paternity leave.
Working Mother specifically recognized us for:
- Our extensive leave benefits for parents (biological and adoptive)
- The coaching and support provided by a dedicated Mother's Network manager
- Our “phase back” option that allows consultants to ease back into work after maternity leaves