USA 
United Kingdom
Dell Technologies is set to retire its hybrid work policy, requiring employees living within an hour of a company office to return to the workplace full-time starting next month.
In a memo to staff, CEO Michael Dell announced that all hybrid and remote team members near one of the company’s 41 US offices will be expected to work on-site five days a week from March 3. Employees living farther from office locations will retain remote work privileges.
Dell attributed the policy shift to the need for faster business operations in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
“The pace of innovation has never been faster, and for us to lead, the speed of our business must continue to accelerate,” said Dell. “What we're finding is that for all the technology in the world, nothing is faster than the speed of human interaction. A thirty second conversation can replace an email back-and-forth that goes on for hours or even days.”
Return-to-office mandate
Dell’s return-to-office (RTO) policy has faced internal pushback since it first required employees to work on-site at least three days a week in February 2024. Reports emerged of confusion over office assignments and claims that the policy served as a covert layoff strategy. The company also monitored compliance through badge swipes and VPN activity, though some employees reportedly disregarded the mandate due to limited advancement opportunities.
By September, Dell expanded its RTO requirements to its sales teams, mandating five days a week in the office regardless of role. The company claims these changes have boosted “speed, energy, and passion” within teams that returned early.
RTO gains Momentum
Dell’s move reflects a broader trend as major companies tighten remote work policies. Amazon required full-time office attendance starting January 2nd, prompting employee backlash and threats of job departures. Additionally, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20 mandating all federal employees return to office-based work.
Despite those shifts, remote work remains prevalent. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 75% of employed American adults work remotely at least part-time, and 46% said they would consider leaving their job if remote work were no longer an option.
As companies like Dell double down on in-person mandates, the tension between business priorities and employee preferences continues to shape the future of work while providing ongoing challenges for HR departments everywhere.
