Consulting Discussions
Utilization Rate

EY people, do you manipulate your sick days to actually take 10 sick days off a year, or does that get you in trouble? Does anyone keep tabs on that? Do sick days hurt utilization?

Do principals also have utilization goals? Can they just choose to bill 0 hours on project and work “for free”?

What happens to year end rating if you miss your utilization target by 5-10%?

Doing some budgeting for hours...aside from the list below, would could impact utilization? Holidays – major vs. floater Holiday timing (e.g., an uptick in Fri PTO on a Thurs holiday week).....

Why doesn't travel time count toward utilization. I wouldn't be going to the client site if I wasn't working for the client. Also is the minimum work hrs during non-busy season 45hrs?

Alright, PDubs, I work crazy hrs on PE Due Diligence, and b/t DD’s I work on proposals. Yet, as I’m only allowed to bill 40 hrs/wk, I’m not going to meet utilization and am ineligible for bonus. Wtf.

We have a meeting room that's being under-utilized, holds ~12. Thinking about cc businesses for SEP/SIMPLE and individuals for alts w/ an invitation to a monthly lunch seminar. Has anyone tried this?

2 weeks unassigned in may. Can I use PTO for those 2 weeks even if I haven’t accrued it yet? 1st year, and what are the cons of two weeks off? Like utilization. Etc

Have any of you gotten fired? Not laid off or anything? Like fired due to performance or low utilization, etc. If so, how did you bounce back from it?

Are there any firms out there that actually let you take all your PTO? I hate that we have to make up our PTO to meet utilization targets. Been on a capped 40-hour project for the last two years and it’s had a terrible effect on my utilization.

Plus, any firms that don’t require more working for free (like all of our BS firm contributions here at D)?

On the bench now and chances of getting staffed by Thanksgiving look bleak. Should I basically call it a year at this point and take PTO to soften the utilization blow?

I️ don’t want to be tied to a single technology and would like to have a breadth of experience and freedom. Although it seems the only way to get utilization is through a single tech piece. Continued

Utilization below target by 35% YTD. Will rating suffer?

Which firms use utilization as a key metric for an individuals annual performance rating/review. Any firms (except Pwc) who don’t pay the individuals annual bonus if the metric isn’t met?

I know as a new hire, your utilization can't really hurt you if it's low be they understand you're new, but for those that have been fully utilized since starting, can that benefit us (higher raise?)

Car utilization: what do you guys do with your car that you park in the apartment parking lot and maybe drive once or twice a month bc ur traveling all the time? I cant sell it bc my city has no(cont)

95% Effective Utilization target? Lol wut?!

New hire who's unassigned for nearly two straight months. Enjoy the free time, or should I be worried about my quickly cratering utilization?

A colleague mentioned to me that they bill self study instead of pto. If I’m utilized at 100%+ and staffed on a client and take 3 days off wed-Sunday, they say bill self study and save pto. Advice?

@PwC wbs 8 code counts towards utilization target? Been 125% on the 8 for 3 months. Either I'm rocking it or it'll come to haunt me later on.

Are utilization targets realistic given the amount of admin BS we also need to do e.g. Independence, R&Q, documentation, expenses and timesheets etc? End up overworked and overstressed

Utilization no longer part of year end review or performance metrics with LEAD. Reasons I have heard make sense but interested to see how it plays out.

How do you see your utilization?

Someone needs to decide whether realization or utilization is more important because I'm sick of getting emails that say I'm under utilized and then getting emails that say I'm over budget! Can't win!

Got a 2% salary hike after receiving a client recommendation, 90% utilization (still 3 months left till year end) and being nominated for a service excellence award. IBM you never cease to amaze.

Is it bad to be over-utilized? I just did the math and I could charge zero hours this week and take a 3 week vacation after and still be 100% utilized? Is that abnormal?

PwC 🐠: since utilization is a requirement to get tier 1 or 2 ranking & bonus this year, is it also a requirement to get promoted, or move up in the Cohort model as opposed to just moving laterally?

Got a 6% raise with a utilization of just over 50%. Blessed 🙌🏻

Here's a question I wish I never had to ask. Is it better to use the code for bereavement leave or just burn pto I'm going to lose anyway? Does it make a difference from a utilization standpoint?

Can you be laid off if you have a decent utilization (80%+) but barely any reinvest?

On the bench for a week or so before start of new project. Do I take PTO or just bill GAA. Any advice on managing utilization?

My project keeps getting pushed back week at a time so my utilization has been suffering for last 2 months... I'll probably get dinged for it at year end review. And its supposed to be my promo yr FML

Utilization rates seem so unreasonable. If the firm wants to keep knowledge in house they should put people on the beach to make internal documents

Such BS how these firms market "work/life balance" when utilization metrics are affected by the amount of PTO you take. WTF!

Would there be any difference in the year-end perf evaluation if your utilization is 95%, on the goal, vs. 105%? Debating whether I should take expiring PTO that will drop my utilization to 95% at YE.

Has anyone ever utilized the alternative travel policy? Please explain how it works!

Have a utilization review coming up. Staffed and always have been, but behind bc of a combo of issues, including medical. (Asking for accommodations through Talent) any general advice/encouragement?

Had to go to the ER today but all I could think about was how getting sick will impact my utilization...Might be time for a vacation.

I'm 6 months old at D! Planning early promotion next year.. counselor and pm both are backing me.. I need to go to India for at least 4 weeks in Dec ... most probably would be rolling off from current project by then .. would this vacation hurt my promotion chances coz of utilization etc?

What's the lowest utilization you have had at any given time?