It’s clear that there’s an ongoing shift to remote work. More and more people in the workforce are seeing the benefits of a more flexible work setup. However, there is some pushback coming from the other end­; employers have started announcing new mandates and policies to try and get employees back to the physical office. One such company is Dell.

The Mandate

Dell’s mandate requires the tech giant’s employees to choose their work setup formally: hybrid or remote. Hybrid employees must report to the office around three days a week. Their attendance will also be tracked based on their badge swipes. Remote employees, on the other hand, can continue working from home full-time. However, those who choose remote work will be ineligible for promotion and won’t be considered for new roles within the company.

Employees still choose remote work.

However, it seems like the new mandate isn’t enough to get employees back to the office. Almost 50% of Dell workers are effectively choosing remote work over career advancement within the company. From what the Business Insider report shows, there are varying and valid reasons for their choice.

Potential financial impact on employees

Going back to the office means additional costs. Employees would have to spend more money on commuting. At the same time, they will also need to consider other expenses like meals and daycare for employees with toddlers. Considering that there will be no immediate salary increase for those who return to the office, these costs will significantly impact one’s budget. All these create a barrier against choosing a hybrid or fully on-site setup.

Logistical issues create barriers

Another barrier is that even if remote workers choose to return to the office, there may not be an office to return to. Dell, like many companies, has either downsized or closed office spaces. Returning to the office is simply not a logistically feasible option for Dell workers.

Aside from the distance, working in a multinational company also plays a part. Some employees work with people across multiple time zones, requiring them to log in beyond the traditional office 9-to-5. This means that if an employee chooses to go for hybrid work, they may have to choose between extending their hours at work or going online even when they’re back home. Both are not ideal options when compared to the flexibility of working remotely.

Lack of incentive or advantage

Based on the results of the mandate, moving up the ladder may not be as attractive for Dell employees as the company may believe. Dell employees have observed fewer career advancement opportunities even before the release of the mandate. They perceive that the possibilities of promotion are limited and see ineligibility for promotion as a meaningless threat. There are also more senior employees who are simply not interested in getting promoted and moving up to either management or C-suite positions.

There’s also contention about the promise that getting people back to the office will increase collaboration and improve knowledge sharing. However, that may not be the case for Dell’s half-empty offices. Almost half of the workforce is working remotely or from other Dell locations.

What does this mean for Dell?

Whether Dell genuinely believes that a return-to-office mandate will enhance collaboration and knowledge-sharing or if this mandate serves as the tech giant’s version of “quiet firing” is a question only Dell executives can answer. However, this situation is another testament to how professionals still value flexibility and balance over potential promotion.

This debacle also shows that today’s workforce is not dominated by “yes men,” which is a good thing. These professionals know how to assess the situation, weigh the pros and cons, and identify holes in reasoning. Yes, they value their jobs and will work to earn a living, but they are no longer willing to accept policies that compromise their priorities and well-being.

It’s up to employers to find a better compromise or risk losing skilled people. Thanks to borderless hiring and the proliferation of virtual teams, tech companies like Dell have more competition for finding and keeping talent. So, will Dell adapt or firmly stand by the new mandate? Again, that’s another question only Dell’s top brass can answer.