Dell to monitor hybrid workers using color-coded system

TEXAS, UNITED STATES — Dell will track the onsite presence of hybrid employees—those who work part remotely, part in the office—using electronic badge swipes, VPN monitoring, and a color-coded rating system, according to sources familiar with the matter.
In an exclusive interview with The Register, one source explained, “In the latest Jeff Clarke return-to-grade-school initiative, HR will be keeping an attendance report card on employees, grading them at four levels based on how well they meet the goal of being in the office 39 days a quarter,” referring to Dell’s chief operating officer.
Dell’s color-coded monitoring system
Starting May 13th, Dell plans to make weekly site visit data available to employees through its HR software, assigning them one of four color-coded ratings:
- Blue: “Consistent onsite presence”
- Green: “Regular onsite presence”
- Yellow: “Some onsite presence”
- Red: “Limited onsite presence”
Sources indicate confusion among managers about the consequences of each tier, with some suggesting employees must remain “Blue” and others allowing more flexibility.
Dell’s controversial RTO policy
The new policy comes after Dell’s controversial return to office mandate in February, which required employees to declare as either hybrid or fully remote—with remote status hindering promotions or role changes.
The memo stated, “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.”
Some employees call the RTO policy unfair and impractical as they are faced with the dilemma of relocating to advance their careers.
“I now know I have no office. So I am remote, or I move if I want to stay,” said a senior Dell employee who lives far from the company’s approved sites, including 17 offices in the U.S. and 26 globally.
“We’re being forced into a position where either we’re going to be staying as the low man on the totem pole, first on the chopping block when it comes to workforce reduction, or we can be hybrid and go in multiple days a week, which really affects a lot of us,” a frustrated Dell staffer added.
Others see it as a form of “quiet firing,” pushing employees towards resignation without the need for severance payouts. A separate survey reported that mandated office returns led to surging attrition rates.
“This level of micromanagement makes me want to leave Dell,” another employee noted.
A ResumeBuilder.com survey found that 91% of companies will require employees to go into the office at least monthly this year, while 75% will mandate at least weekly office work.