Bench headcount is why consulting office demand swings so hard. When big projects end, the office fills; when staffing is tight, it empties. Bookable desks absorb those swings without carrying permanent capacity for the peak bench week of the year.
Common questions
What does On the Bench mean in simple terms?+
Being on the bench means a consultant is between client engagements: unstaffed, working on internal projects, training or proposals, and usually working from the firm’s own office rather than a client site.
How does On the Bench work in practice?+
Bench headcount is why consulting office demand swings so hard. When big projects end, the office fills; when staffing is tight, it empties. Bookable desks absorb those swings without carrying permanent capacity for the peak bench week of the year.