Thread regarding Dell Inc. layoffs

Real reason for RTO

At the town hall in Cork the reason for forced RTO was presented that we are social creatures and us being in the same office looking at each other will breed creativity and is good for the company.

However my manager told me the reason was that they needed to keep headcount up so that they can justify an office in cork.

So which one is it? Who is lieing here?

by
| 3881 views | | 16 replies (last September 19, 2024) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1uzwIyry

16 replies (most recent on top)

@1ase+1uzwIyry yup, fire drill was multipurpose

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1zux+1uzwIyry

The Cork office is in the middle of nowhere. There's nothing around. The environment there is completely uninspiring. It's like a hospital ward and that's even AFTER refurbishments.

I was in the office last week and a guy was sitting at his desk with his shoes off eating toast from a table that's shared with others. Of course people don't want to return to that

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1mvk+1uzwIyry

Leaders are the liars. They always lie. They lie so much their pants should be on fire.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1xli+1uzwIyry

so we had a fire drill yesterday in Hopkinton and they wanted us to all badge back in after sitting outside for 15 minutes or so. Someone in charge was saying we had to badge in so they could see who was coming back. My guess is they want to see how many people are badging in the morning but aren't sticking around all day. The fire alarm was around 2:30 or so. This sort of gives them an idea of who came in in the morning but left hours later.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1ase+1uzwIyry

Hey what was announced? I wasn’t able to attend today

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @lqc+1uzwIyry

It is 100% the latter. The former is just the typical corporate narrative. This is Dell folks - it’s always about the cost! Are they really interested in “breeding creativity” by giving everyone treble the workload post all of the WFRs - where will one find the time to be creative in that environment! Its absolute B/S.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @coj+1uzwIyry

They cant say in the Town Hall that its due to low turn out of Hybrid in Ireland. A lot of Higher ups in that meeting today so they had to use the creativity excuse. Ireland and Cork are far below the Global RTO numbers so they need to increase the Hybrid numbers.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @gzr+1uzwIyry

Think of it this way. If you have a building of 100m2 then there is a usage efficiency metric based on the headcount occupying that space. The less people, the less efficient the space usage and the cost per head per m2 goes up.
Now consider, if you include cost per head for heating/air con, catering, security, janitorial etc the less people you have on site the higher the cost per head.

While there may be elements of pooling people for cultural or personal interactions, a lot of how Dell evaluate the situation is cost per m2 per head for each site.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @lba+1uzwIyry

Sounds plausible. As much as Dell tries to claim it’s a very hierarchical company, it’s really a collection of mafias, some ethnic, some regional. Even low level employees are strategizing and gaming things to get what they want. Coffee badges being an example. I can see higher ups thinking they themselves may be out of a job if the office closes, and strategizing to fill the office with bodies.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @rdp+1uzwIyry

Tax incentives unlikely. Buildings are antiquated and Dell is not putting up new buildings /sites for any tax breaks. Only locality happy to see Dell is India at this point.

I think it has to do with depreciation, amortization and expenses on existing. You cannot deduct these if you don't have employees using the assets. They sold as much land and buildings as they can during Covid closure. Had they been able to sell off more buildings there would be no RTO.

Dell is not a trendsetter. they are just following what the cool kids in tech are doing. unfortunately dell is not the cool hence +50% opted for remote to their chagrin

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @iwa+1uzwIyry

Here in the States, in some cities there are tax implications centered around Corporate Infrastructure and occupancy. You either fill up the building, or you get rid of the building.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @jrq+1uzwIyry

@shw+1uzwIyry has it right - this article I think explains a lot of the reason: https://communityimpact.com/austin/round-rock/government/2024/04/26/dell-signs-century-long-agreement-with-the-city-of-round-rock/

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @vaq+1uzwIyry

If they seated teams together perhaps. But since it is now random seating this is sh--e.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @efw+1uzwIyry

collaboration and creativity are a small role that plays well in the press; it is more about the cost of empty, or near empty, real estate and any tax implications or tax incentives

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @shw+1uzwIyry

Limericks the same. I hope it closes don't have to go in then.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @eyy+1uzwIyry

It's the latter. The Irish office numbers are 20% below the others.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @mwt+1uzwIyry

Post a reply

: