Dell Employees Push Back Against Return-to-Office Mandates

Earlier this year, the company warned staff that failing to return to the office could affect their promotions. However, data indicates that many employees are unfazed by this ultimatum.

New data shows that Dell’s strict return-to-office policy is falling short, with many employees still opting to stay home.

Over the past year, Dell has made headlines for its aggressive push to bring staff back to its physical locations, even threatening to withhold promotions from those who remain remote.

However, an internal survey reveals that many employees are choosing remote work over career advancement.

Dell Employees Challenge Promotion Threat Over Office Return

Internal data obtained by Business Insider indicates that Dell’s threat to halt promotions for employees who refuse to return to the office is not having the intended effect. Many staff members are opting to stay home and forgo career advancement.

Reportedly, about 50% of Dell employees are choosing to remain remote, and this trend is not limited to the U.S. One-third of international employees are also not returning to the office.

In interviews with Business Insider, some employees who chose to work from home cited the cost and time of commuting as major factors. Others mentioned that when they do go into the office, they find themselves surrounded by empty desks and end up having conference calls with other Dell employees in similarly deserted offices.

Tracing the Evolution of Dell’s Return-to-Office Policy

Like many companies, Dell initially asked its staff to work from home in early 2020 when the pandemic began. The company maintained a relaxed attitude towards remote work, even encouraging it as conditions started to improve.

This approach was evident in a 2022 quote from Dell CEO, Michael Dell: 

"But from my experience, 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."

Given those words, employees could reasonably expect to continue working remotely. However, in 2023, Dell mandated that staff living within an hour’s commute return to the office. This demand was later extended to all employees, regardless of location, requiring a minimum of 39 office days per quarter.

In March 2024, a leaked memo revealed that Dell employees were warned their career progression would be stalled if they didn’t comply with the return-to-office (RTO) policy. The memo stated, "Career advancement, including applying to new roles in the company, will require a team member to reclassify as hybrid onsite."

To enforce its RTO demands, Dell introduced a color-coding system in May 2024, flagging employees who failed to clock into the office with a red mark on their records.

The standoff between Dell and its employees continues, with a significant number of staff resisting the push to return. The pressing question remains: What will Dell’s next move be, and can its employees ultimately prevail in their fight to stay remote?

Return to Office Still Divisive in 2024

The debate over remote work versus returning to the office remains heated in 2024. Some companies insist on bringing employees back to the office despite substantial evidence supporting the benefits of remote work. Our list of companies mandating office returns continues to grow.

However, many companies are still embracing remote work. Each month, we highlight these organizations. If you're a Dell employee considering a change, or anyone tired of commuting, take a look at the remote job opportunities for June, including positions at Microsoft and Google.

If you prefer to stay in your current job but want to work from home, check out our guide on how to request remote work.