According to a new report from Business insiderDell has announced a major policy change that will impact its remote workers.
Starting in May, fully remote Dell employees will no longer be eligible for promotion within the company. Employees reportedly told the publication that their remote setups had allowed them to adapt to other life factors. The flexibility had given them some leeway to perform better.
The company’s change of heart marks a departure from its previous stance on remote work; CEO Michael Dell had previously been a proponent himself.
Dell is fighting WFHers
In 2022, the company’s CEO stated, “At Dell, we found no meaningful differences between team members working remotely or in the office, even before the pandemic forced everyone home.”
Under the new policy, employees will fall into one of two categories: purely remote, which means they will no longer be eligible for career opportunities, and hybrid, which will require employees to be in the office at least three times. days a week.
In a memo obtained by Business insiderDell emphasized the importance of personal connections and alluded to the need for remote workers to transition to hybrid roles.
Michael Dell previously told his followers on LinkedIn: “If you rely on spending forced hours in a traditional office to create collaboration and a sense of belonging within your organization, you’re doing it wrong.”
Employees participate anonymously Business insider expressed frustration and concerns about the new policy, fearing job insecurity and the impact of longer office hours on work-life balance, with many employees living hours away from an office location.
While Dell may not be the only company implementing such drastic measures — Apple, Google, Microsoft and others have also pushed office work since the pandemic — it certainly points to an ongoing and seemingly unsettled debate about the future of work at distance. and the effectiveness of working from an office.
Ny Breaking asked Dell to confirm the report.