Deloitte US to cut benefits for segment of employees amid job architecture reshuffle

Big Tech led the way in astonishing employee perks: ping-pong tables, beer taps, and on-site dry cleaning and laundry services. Then, these same tech companies led the way in a wider roll back of employee benefits as execs began to reorganize amid a changing economy and wider AI transformation.

Consulting appears to be the next domino.

Even the largest professional services firms are recalibrating their people strategies in today’s economy and labor market. Deloitte plans to roll back some benefits for a segment of its US workers, according to reporting from Business Insider.

“Deloitte US is modernizing its talent architecture to provide a more tailored experience reflective of our professionals’ broad range of skills and the work they do serving our clients,” a Deloitte spokesperson told Business Insider. “Benefits are regularly updated and will be tailored for a small subset of professionals to better align with the marketplace.”

According to the report, Deloitte plans to reduce parental leave, PTO, pension contributions, and other family-planning benefits for employees in its “center” talent model. These roles are related to internal operations like IT, finance, and admin.

The move comes as Deloitte begins overhauling its jobs architecture with new job categories—center, core, project, and domain—and updated titles to better align work with business needs amid an AI transformation.

Business Insider reported Deloitte plans to cut paid parental leave from 16 weeks to eight, reduce PTO—in some cases by up to 10 days, according to the report—and eliminate a $50,000 adoption and surrogacy benefit. The changes are set to take effect in 2027.

The move reflects a wider trend of tightened belts amid an uncertain economy and follows several years during which talent scarcity drove companies to expand benefits and flexibility. As execs look for a budget for AI tools and infrastructure spend and as the labor market shifts, perks and benefits become expendable.

Cutting benefits such as parental leave and IVF treatment also signals employers’ willingness to rethink the employee contract. Rolling back family-planning benefits can impact a diverse set of employees, such as LGBT individuals. Deloitte was among the Fortune 500 companies that changed public-facing DEI language following the election of President Trump in November 2024, HR Brew previously reported.