Thread regarding Dell Inc. layoffs

Just declined all my 5-8pm calls!

I work on a global team and was part of many regular (standing) calls in the 5-8pm zone. But Dell told me I need to work from the office every day, with no flexibility. I'm fine with this. However it's impossible for me to actively participate in Zoom calls looking at slides, when I'm behind the wheel inching my way home in grinding traffic every evening. So I've declined all these calls going forward. Several other people on our working team are in the same boat, and are taking the same approach. The hosts will now need to set up multiple calls on each topic, so one fits within our time zone. What a waste of time and effort.

The Law of Unintended Consequences rears its ugly head.

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| 3691 views | | 26 replies (last March 4, 2025) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1jnbgb9ty

26 replies (most recent on top)

Why not just use the flexible policy and work when you need to accommodate those meetings? You all take things way too literal, no wonder your managers don't trust you with making decisions. If someone doesn't tell you exactly what to do and when, you're helpless

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Post ID: @gz+1jnbgb9ty

I did the same thing. Except for me since my team is in India and I am in RR5 I used to start my work day at 4am so I could catch their afternoon. Well I am no longer able to do calls until 9am. And I advised my team members that they should not do calls outside of their work hours as well. Let's just conduct most of our business via email and just expect their to be a 2-3 day lag in decisions.

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Post ID: @gy+1jnbgb9ty

"Just declined all my 5-8pm calls!"

That a way Skippy, you show em who's Boss!

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Post ID: @fa+1jnbgb9ty

If anyone wants to move ahead, the one that won't answer his or her phone after hours will soon get no calls. Very few calls after 5pm unless you are important or work with the AI Sinai replacement team project. Good for you!

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Post ID: @ch+1jnbgb9ty

“You know, just like it used to be pre-pandemic.“

I was fully remote pre-pandemic. My entire team was.

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Post ID: @ce+1jnbgb9ty

Rambo: I'm expendable. Co: What mean expendable? Rambo: It's like someone invites you to a party and you don't show up. It doesn't really matter.

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Post ID: @cc+1jnbgb9ty

You exchange your time for money. Dell is using you, and you are using them. Do not make this any more than what it is. Do what is best for you and your family. We are all expendable.

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Post ID: @cb+1jnbgb9ty

If I altered my schedule for calls I would never be able to come into the office.

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Post ID: @bt+1jnbgb9ty

you know during covid people had to go in 5 days a week to the office the entire time. Risk the health and safety of themselves and family pre-vaccine. Never got to hide in there PJ,s at home. Pandemic is over!!

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Post ID: @bs+1jnbgb9ty

I work on call. Next P1 call I get in the middle of the night I’m driving the 50 minutes to the office before I start working on it. My home is now my home again.

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Post ID: @bq+1jnbgb9ty

AI will fix these issues. Sooner than later. Trust me. You WFH from home fóõls have made it easy to get help from cheap foreign labor while AI is worked in.

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Post ID: @bh+1jnbgb9ty

"It's almost as if some of you didn't read the FAQs. You can alter your schedule to accommodate these types of calls because of the flexible policy. You know, just like it used to be pre-pandemic."
WHAT policy? Has anybody really seen the actual policy document? Without that you can keep doing whatever you want to do as you can't be punished for breaching a non-existent policy.

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Post ID: @b8+1jnbgb9ty

For the person who cited the FAQs, altering of hours can be done with management approval. Good luck with that.

It is also against policy to participate in calls when you are operating a motor vehicle. Good luck turning down those ‘emergency’ calls.

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Post ID: @ap+1jnbgb9ty

I did exactly that. After being treated very badly I started to just work 8 to 5. I ended up with no bonus, no raise and got let go.

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Post ID: @ah+1jnbgb9ty

It’s pretty sad if you think you should do anything extra for Dell at this point. It’s 2025 not 1984. There is life after Dell. The second they started treating me like garbage I left. You should too. Have a little pride.

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Post ID: @af+1jnbgb9ty

It's almost as if some of you didn't read the FAQs. You can alter your schedule to accommodate these types of calls because of the flexible policy. You know, just like it used to be pre-pandemic.

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Post ID: @ae+1jnbgb9ty

"No one said they’re clocking 8 hours in office. Did they?"

For some groups, yes, the expectation is that everyone be in the office 8 hours a day for the 5 days/week. They are not allowing for flexibility. So, for those groups, I completely understand this approach. If you're no longer allowed to work from home, that means any and all work. No calls before getting to the office and no calls after leaving the office.

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Post ID: @aa+1jnbgb9ty

# me too

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Post ID: @a9+1jnbgb9ty

No one said they’re clocking 8 hours in office. Did they? I plan to take morning calls at home then come in after rush hour. I mean I still expect a lot of coffee badging people too. It’s going to be a sh-t show without enough desks for most anyway.

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Post ID: @a7+1jnbgb9ty

If you don’t want to job and its requirements then quit. Pretty simple stuff. Or even better, ask for a package.

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Post ID: @a6+1jnbgb9ty

missed calls means p'd off customers which means bad business and that will make it way to the top. What I'm finding out is you can have this attitude, but others in your group will not, so not much really happens other than you looking bad to the rest of your group which could affect your peer reviews and then your merit/bonus.

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Post ID: @a5+1jnbgb9ty

Same boat, but from 5-8am. WFH provided flexibility to collaborate with colleagues across the globe. RTO five days a week is actually going to be counterproductive for those of us in global roles. At least three days provided some flexibility to work around these off hours meetings.

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Post ID: @a4+1jnbgb9ty

My teammates and I have been discussing exactly how to handle these situations since we are also regularly pulled into working calls that fall into the commuting hours time. Sure some people can just stay late in the office, but I need to be home by 7pm most days to help out at home. I don't think our senior leaders understand how this RTO policy is going to hurt our business. I have no problem with a work from the office culture, but this mandatory 5-day policy with zero flexibility feels pretty misguided to me.

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Post ID: @a3+1jnbgb9ty

You 100% should not take calls outside of your working hours anyway!

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Post ID: @a2+1jnbgb9ty

Ha! I'm in the same boat.

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Post ID: @a1+1jnbgb9ty

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