I’m so sorry for all Dell folks who list their job especially those 50+. These folks may have just paid for kids college, are helping aging parents, and trying rebuild savings to prepare for retirement themselves, WFR could devastate them as it’s extremely hard to get a job in tech over 50. I was WFR last year. I feel you! Sadly. I don’t work at Dell, I can’t tell Dell but I wish I would have spoke up!!! Regrettably, I was afraid.
Wish I would’ve had the courage to say what I just wrote below. I’m hoping someone from Dell Legal or HR us reading.
Someone needs to ASK WHY!!!
While I was at Dell (2019) I could never find an ERG within Dell with the goal of supporting team members over 50 years of age. Ageism at Dell runs rampant! Worse than the industry to be sure! Team members over 50 are often excluded from peer activities and not selected for career advancement opportunities.... simply because of their age! Unconscious or Conscious bias? The industry experience of team members over 50 should be sought out not put on top of list for WFR or at bottom of the stack for promotions. Dell HR take an honest look... anyone reading this COMMENT!!!! When’s the last time an executive email or other Dell forum called out ageism or committed to eliminate or fight against ageism? Any recent survey asking team members if over 50 if they believe they are isolated or discriminated against due to age? Why do all groups seem to matter more than the long term employees who built the company? If a long term employee is a poor performer or on a redundant team, ask WHY!!! Why are folks even as young as 45 often pushed out or given a bad assignment in hopes they’d go away peacefully or show justification for next WFR’d while younger or more politically aligned persons are promoted or put in a position of success- lengthening career, financially rewarded, avoiding WFR profile. C’mon Dell HR or LAWYERS- ask WHY!!!!!Lives are being ruined as it’s almost impossible to restart a career for long term employees- ASK WHY!!! Then...Act! Do something!!Dell has the opportunity to show the industry that you are better than the rest of the pack! Be the change!!!Please be heard. Comment! No sarcasm please!! I know someone at Dell or other person reading this can make a difference
20 replies (most recent on top)
I think it has more to do with pay-scale than age. But senior tenured folks often are in the higher pay scales, so it could look like ageism. I think they would rather hire two people for 100K a year versus one senior person making 200K a year. They don’t care about loyalty or years served or age. I think it’s just numbers.
I was let go from Dell almost ten years ago (during the recession). It was a painful time, but I sure am glad to not be at Dell anymore. I really don't know what to say to people who work at Dell and seem to be content (401K contributions stopped - really, you are okay with that?). It was a mess from day 1 when I arrived. I showed up with about 5 other people in a DM role and there were layoffs within 6 months and my mentor was let go. Apparently, being hired within a year gave you a free pass. I survived a few rounds, in fact I was the last of the original group 6 before I was laid off.
It took me many years to understand that businesses are not supposed to be regulated per the design of our country, nor do they have any obligation to coddle anyone. Scary though but that is the design of our country. We do regulate to some degree now, but not really supposed to by Americas design. Best to raise your children to understand this so they can be prepared for the future. I was clueless, too old now. We have a right to be nervous.
To the person who posted this.. "Does anyone else notice the irony of all of these "old" people saying things like "I saw people in their late 20's without an iota of experience promoted into positions they could not even handle". And then they go on to complain about ageism. It is amazing how blind people are to their own hypocrisy" .
You are likely a big part of the problem. Your definition of "old people" unmasks your inexperience and ignorance. A bit of advice from an "old man" of 47. What you put out into the universe usually comes back. Best of luck to you as age creeps in! Better yet, why not make a difference? Start and ERG to combat ageism! Or.... please play with your lego's and be quiet and hope someone else steps in to make a difference. I agree with the original post- I hope DELL HR or a good lawyer is listening. Lives are indeed being crushed when a layoff occurs after 50+ There's usually a spot in an org. for tenured employees- an effort must be made.
Dell laid me off at age 55 after 16 years of loyal service. That was back in 2015. I work for a well managed company now. I make less money (although still in 6 figures), but I am so much happier. Best of luck to all of you!
The job description of HR by default is to protect the corporation from "human resources".
Anyone would be a fool to believe otherwise.i consider them a bitmap for the corporation. Nothing wrong. I don't mind. I'm just keeping that in mind when dealing with HR.
Does anyone else notice the irony of all of these "old" people saying things like "I saw people in their late 20's without an iota of experience promoted into positions they could not even handle". And then they go on to complain about ageism. It is amazing how blind people are to their own hypocrisy.
Because Dell s—s lol. Have fun with all that debt From the EMC acquisition!
I, too was WFR last Tuesday. I'm 39, was the oldest on my global team, and a father of 3. I never missed a meeting, not once, or any customer engagements in the 2 years I was employed at Dell Technologies. My customers had stellar performance reviews in my end of year feedback. HR told me during my exit interview that they were "planning for long term economic uncertainty." I had team members, mostly younger, early 20s who fly drones and engage in moonlighting (bug bounties) during working hours, which the manager encouraged. Also my team lead knew salary and total compensation figures that everyone in the US was making and had made hateful comments on several occasions about pay despairity. This was literally the most toxic place I have ever worked and I witnessed so many unethical and legally questionable activities while there. I mean it was actually quite disturbing. So much so that I can't share in these comments.
I was part of the recent round of WFRs. I'm in my late 40's. Everyone of the group that was let go out of our org was late 40's and up. Note, I was helping a JR team member (late 20's) co-leading a project because they had become overloaded. Who do you think they kept? It's all about $$$$.
Even if you signed to get the severance, there are still options to sue. You Signing does not mean that the company can break laws. One suggestion I have (I know this controversial and may be rude) is check your local Sunday newspaper classified. Watch for dell openings. Believe me, there are plenty. Apply for anything that remotely fits your need. One Dell HR person told me these are fake ads. However the company is supposed to interview everyone who apply to meet whatever government requirements for foreigners they hired in the past. This could put them in awkward position. If they don’t give you job after the interview, you can sue them. They cannot establish you are not qualified because you were already their employee before lay offs.
Surprisingly, the most affected by corporate greed are the ones that keep the system in place out of sheer fear and ignorance
Texas has some of the fewest worker protections. Works out well, if you own the company. The rest of folks, not so much.
I honestly thought about filing an age discrimination lawsuit when I was sent the ages of my team members when I was riffed. I was the second oldest and I know that had a lot to do with it. Not all, as my manager prided himself on who s—ed up the best and I was not one of them. I figured take the money and go, put it behind me and move on, which I have. Dell s—s and so do all of their managers, directors and their VP's. Global Alliances for one, is one of the worst run organizations I've ever seen. Total joke.
I was also WFRed last your. I was over 50 and the only one to let go from the team.
Ageism is everywhere but I will say that it did annoy me that the teams at Dell loved talking about racism and g– pride and transgender issues but nothing was ever talked about with regards to ageism. I do think that most of what was said by the OP here is true. Are there grounds for a class action suit? I don’t know. I would guess most people need the severance and will sign a release so they can get paid.
Of course they do it to reduce costs due to larger salaries older employees usually have. Do the class action like they did to IBM when IBM did the same thing. IBM settled pretty quickly I believe. Sorry this is not Canada or Europe. We have no worker protections here and never will thanks to conservatives.
It’s due to lack of regulations. Dell or any other company doesn’t dare to that in Europe. Look at severance packages there and you will understand. Employees get years worth of severance. So don’t blame Dell, but blame those who vote to empower corporations against individuals.
So very true. Dell management is the problem. It has always been the problem. The VP's are the problem as well. They believe in a** kissing, and if you don't, they feel you don't fit in and will look to get rid of you. I saw people in late 20's without an iota of experience promoted into positions they could not even handle. When they had problems because they didn't know how to do something they came to me, who in turn helped them out. Was I promoted, no I wasn't because I didn't fawn over my manager or his manager like they were god's gift. Dell is the worst place to work and until they get rid of many of these managers and VP's and start with people person's they will continue to roll down hill. Having Dell on your resume is not a gold star in anyone's eye, they have a bad reputation and everyone knows it.
Thanks for posting. So sad. I agree.
No support or protections to even look at treatment of aging employees to be sure we’re treated equally and equitably. There are so many ignored flags. The income inequality alone between new employees and aging longer term employees should be obvious to Dell HR. I was moved to a poor performing group while a younger employee was given existing higher performing opportunities with assured revenue and higher comp. Less than 12 months later WFR came calling and I was on the list. My great history vs. recent new assignment with less opportunities and reduced performance did not matter. I agree someone from HR should’ve looked into what changed. I assure you, it wasn’t me.... I was an aged resource who was pushed out. Yes. This is devastating for my family. I haven’t found work yet.