Forced to leave "at will"? Dell denies career advancement to employees on remotes

The American technology company Dell warns all remote workers that without visiting the office, they will not be eligible for promotion.

And this statement was made ten years after the company switched to a hybrid work format, reports Arstechnica.

This is a rather sharp turn in the company's policy, as it used to claim something slightly different.

"Don't expect that the time spent in a traditional office will help build collaboration and a sense of belonging to your organization," said CEO Michael Dell at that time.

If you want a promotion, go to the office

Starting from May, Dell employees will either be remote or on a hybrid schedule

• The latter must come to the office at least 39 days per quarter, which equals about three times a week
• Those who would never want to go to the office will not be "considered for promotion and will not be able to change roles"

It is worth remembering that remote work has been a corporate standard at the company for quite some time. From 10% to 15% of employees almost never showed up in the office.

This flexibility allowed the company to become an attractive employer in the post-COVID era. Now, however, they believe that "personal connections combined with a flexible approach are crucial for fostering innovation and differentiating values."

What has changed at Dell?

Some experts note that this may be a reaction to the instability of the global economy. The reason for the policy change is cited as the belief that if people physically work together, they can perform their duties better.

At the same time, there is a more logical explanation. Unnamed employees who spoke to journalists expressed concern that the future policy is an attempt to make people resign. In this way, Dell could save money on human resources without paying compensation.

The last major layoff at Dell was in February 2023. Then 6,500, or 5% of the company's workforce, were left without jobs.