Dell, a prominent laptop brand, is facing flak after it recently announced a policy change regarding promotions for remote workers. In a memo circulated in February, Dell informed its remote employees that while they can continue working from home, they will not be eligible for promotions or allowed to change roles within the company, Business Insider reported.
The memo, accessed by Business Insider, informed its employees of a return-to-office mandate and also said they would be categorised as "hybrid" and "remote" workers. As per the memo, hybrid employees are required to spend a minimum of three days a week in an approved office. Meanwhile, employees who prefer to continue working remotely have the option to transition to full-time remote work.
However, in this choice, the fully remote workers will not be eligible for promotions or can switch roles within the company.
The memo states: "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."
Notably, Dell had a hybrid work culture long before COVID-19 struck. However, now the company's strict return-to-office (RTO) policies, have left employees shocked and disheartened. Several employees who have been working remotely for years, said they are worried they wouldn't be able to move up in their jobs or have the same flexibility they had before.
"Dell cared about the work, not the location. I would say 10% to 15% of every team was remote," a senior employee at Dell who's worked remotely for more than a decade, told Business Insider last month.
Another employee said, ''The new policy is deeply disheartening. Many of us have been successfully working remotely for years, delivering quality results. It feels like our dedication and hard work are being overlooked.''
A third said, ''It's demotivating to learn that our contributions may not be recognized in the same way as those working in office. This decision undermines the value of remote work and disregards the achievements of remote employees.''
