Dell responds to return-to-office resistance with VPN, badge tracking
arstechnica.com
Report claims new tracking starts May 13 with unclear consequences.

After reversing its position on remote work, Dell is reportedly implementing new tracking techniques on May 13 to ensure its workers are following the company’s return-to-office (RTO) policy, The Register reported today, citing anonymous sources.

Dell will track employees’ badge swipes and VPN connections to confirm that workers are in the office for a significant amount of time.

Dell’s methods for tracking hybrid workers will also reportedly include a color-coding system. From “consistent” to “limited” presence, the colors are blue, green, yellow, and red.

The Register reported today that approximately 50 percent of Dell’s US workers are remote, compared to 66 percent of international workers.

An examination of 457 companies on the S&P 500 list released in February concluded that RTO mandates don’t drive company value but instead negatively affect worker morale. Analysis of survey data from more than 18,000 working Americans released in March found that flexible workplace policies, including the ability to work remotely completely or part-time and flexible schedules, can help employees’ mental health.

  • gmtom@lemmy.worldEnglish
    14·
    6 months ago

    A large portion of most rich peoples investment portfolios is commercial real estate.

    So if remote work takes off then offices devalue and their invest profiles diminish. That’s why all the big business have colluded to force RTO, even if it would ostensibly cost their business more to do so. The execs personal savings are more important.

    • thisisnotgoingwell@programming.devEnglish
      2·
      6 months ago

      This, and it’s a way to make sure urban economies with investments stay stimulated… If the companies said “okay, just do your job, IDC” then a lot of people would move to rural areas. Also, corporate office leases are usually long, like 15 years. If the companies stop paying their leases, the entire flimsy financial system would crumble, since modern economics/property prices are more about potential/theoretical value rather than real value. You need a big fancy building in a fancy city to attract top talent, high earners, so it keeps the class system intact as well.

      • 0x0@programming.devEnglish
        2·
        6 months ago

        You need a big fancy building in a fancy city to attract top talent,

        WFH attracts me, not fancy buildings in cities… YMMV i guess.

      • gian @lemmy.grys.itEnglish
        2·
        6 months ago

        You need a big fancy building in a fancy city to attract top talent, high earners, so it keeps the class system intact as well.

        I don’t think that this is that true anymore.