Dell’s remote workers will not be eligible for promotion in new policy

Dell, headquartered in Round Rock, previously had a flexible hybrid working culture for more than a decade. But now, Dell employees who work from home (WFH) will reportedly not be eligible for a promotion.

In February, Dell introduced the new RTO mandate to staff in a memo which seemed to penalize employees who choose to be fully remote. Business Insider reports that under the new policy, staff were told that beginning in May almost all employees will be classified as either “hybrid,” or “remote.”

Hybrid workers will be required to come into a Dell office for at least 39 days per quarter, or about three days a week. However, if staff choose to be “fully remote,” they will not be considered for promotion, or be able to change roles, Business Insider reports. 

The memo reads: “For remote team members, it is important to understand the trade-offs: Career advancement, including applying to new roles in the company, will require a team member to reclassify as hybrid onsite.” Dell told MySA in an emailed statement that “in today’s global technology revolution, we believe in-person connections paired with a flexible approach are critical to drive innovation and value differentiation.”

The computer company has joined the trend of tech companies and worldwide occupations trying to lure employees back into the office since the COVID-19 pandemic. In previous years, the computer company’s CEO Michael Dell supported Dell’s WFH policies saying: “If you are counting on forced hours spent in a traditional office to create collaboration and provide a feeling of belonging within your organization, you’re doing it wrong.”

Dell’s past work flexibility has helped its staff sustain their careers and landed the company on celebrated lists like the “Best Place to Work for Disability Equality Index” since 2018.