Accenture chief executive Julie Sweet has made an unusual request to staff: hold off on taking vacation in August and help the company deliver a stronger fourth quarter. In return, employees can carry their unused leave into the next financial year.
The consulting giant has introduced a one-time change to its vacation policy. Normally, staff are expected to use their allotted leave before the financial year ends on August 31. This year, however, unused days can be carried forward to the new year that begins on September 1.
The move is designed to keep more people available during a critical sales period. Sweet wants the firm to finish the year on a high note after weaker-than-expected results in the previous quarter.
In an internal memo, Sweet urged employees to find new ways to serve clients and generate extra revenue before the quarter closes. “Our shareholders are counting on us to deliver a strong quarter in Q4, everyone can contribute,” she wrote. She also called on teams to originate more sales both small and large so the company can finish strong.
Accenture has been under pressure after reporting a 2% drop in new bookings for the quarter ended May 31. The company also guided for fourth-quarter revenue of between $17.75 billion and $18.4 billion, which fell short of analysts’ expectations. The cautious outlook triggered a sharp market reaction, with shares falling nearly 20% in a single day — one of the steepest drops in the company’s recent history.
People familiar with the matter say the temporary leave policy is partly aimed at discouraging staff from taking time off in August just to avoid losing their vacation days. At the same time, it gives employees greater flexibility to use their leave later.
The push comes as Accenture, like many consulting firms, faces growing questions about the impact of artificial intelligence. While Sweet has consistently described AI as a long-term opportunity and a “tailwind” for the business, some investors remain cautious. Analysts have noted that clear evidence of AI driving significant new demand is still limited.
By allowing staff to carry forward leave, Accenture is trying to balance two goals: keeping its workforce engaged and available during a make-or-break month, while also offering employees more flexibility. Whether the one-time exception helps the company meet its targets will become clear when it reports results after the financial year ends.
Prabhat Shukla is Senior Copy Editor at ET Now with over 2.5 years of experience in reporting and strategic storytelling. He is a graduate in Economics (Honours) from Lucknow University and holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). He currently covers the technology and automobile beats, closely tracking developments across consumer tech, mobility, and innovation.
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