ROUND ROCK, Texas — Texas-based Dell is making some abrupt changes to its employees' work lives.
Late last month, the computer technology company's sales staff was informed they had to return to fully in-person schedules, giving them only two days to make the change.
Executives said the sales team in particular needs to collaborate with one another, prompting the sudden switch, according to Business Insider.
"To harness this energy and grow skills, we believe our sales teams need to be together in the office," the memo said in part.
Previously, employees had the choice to work either fully remote or to follow a hybrid schedule, spending three days in the office and two at home.
Business Insider reported the new change left many parents scrambling to find child care under short notice, especially with the school year already underway. Not only that, but child care expenses also added extra stress.
"It's very disappointing that a company such as Dell, which supposedly prides itself on pushing a good work-life balance, has instead cultivated a culture of losing one's job if we don't have 'butts in the seat," an employee told Business Insider.
Some hybrid employees said they were previously able to work a half-day in the office, then finish their shifts from home to help take care of their children. Now, they claim they were told to use personal time off if they were busy during work hours, with confusion on whether they could work partially remotely.
Still, others claimed they might have to quit their roles altogether.
While the shift change only impacts the sales team, some employees said they heard more staff could return in-person in the near future.
Austinites react to Dell's schedule shift
Some Austinites also shared their thoughts on the company's updated five-day schedule.
"Literally, you can't let people plan their lives around remote work, then rip that out from under them," one Reddit user wrote. "People live far away, have leases, have children that will need care."
Another Reddit commenter shared a similar sentiment.
"These are layoffs disguised as a return-to-office to get people to quit so they don't have to pay unemployment. This is taking advantage of people and resources," the post said in part.
Dell's headquarters is based in Round Rock, but the company employs workers in 180 countries.