Dell's sudden 5-day return-to-office order leaves parents scrambling to find childcare

In February, the company told all US employees to choose between hybrid or remote work, with the caveat that remote workers wouldn't be eligible for promotions or role changes. Starting in May, hybrid workers were required to be in the office 39 days a quarter, roughly three days a week.

Attendance was tracked, but the system was flexible in practice, and many ended up leaving at lunchtime, Dell workers told Business Insider.

However, on September 26, the company's sales team received a memo from executives: From the following Monday, they'd be expected to be in the office five days a week.

"The expectation is that ALL Global Sales team members who can work from a Dell office be on-site five days a week, regardless of role," Bill Scannell and John Byrne, the company's sales chiefs, told staff in the internal memo seen by BI.

"To harness this energy and grow skills, we believe our sales teams need to be together in the office," the memo added. "Additionally, our data shows that sales teams are more productive when onsite."

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