Dell Monitors Hybrid Workers’ Activity Through Badge Swipes

Dell’s Monitoring of Hybrid Employees Sparks Controversy

In a controversial move, Dell Technologies has implemented a new system to monitor the attendance of its hybrid employees by tracking how often they swipe into its U.S. offices. This comes just a few months after the tech company made it difficult for remote workers to get promoted, causing further discontent among its workforce.

According to an internal memo obtained by Business Insider, Dell will assign a flag color – blue, green, yellow, or red – based on the frequency of employee badge swipes. This flag color will play a significant role in how hybrid employees are reviewed, rewarded, and compensated at the end of each quarter.

Employees began seeing their weekly site visit data on Dell’s HR platform Workday on Monday, after the attendance monitoring system was implemented on May 6. The more employees swipe in to work in person, the better the color of their corresponding flag on Workday, reflecting their attendance.

However, this new policy has not been well-received by Dell employees, with some anonymously reporting feeling like they are back in school. Many expressed disappointment with the company, once known for its support of remote work.

With Dell’s employee headcount decreasing since 2020, some employees speculate that the new policy could be a way to quietly fire people, particularly affecting women. Dell has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.

As the debate over remote work continues to evolve, Dell’s monitoring of hybrid employees has sparked a new wave of controversy within the tech industry.