Latest news with #TellDell
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Inside the 'Gen Z stare' and why it's dividing generations
Welcome back to our Sunday edition, where we round up some of our top stories and take you inside our newsroom. Dell employees are not OK. Every year, the company conducts an engagement survey for its workers, called "Tell Dell." One metric of employee satisfaction has dropped by 50% in two years amid layoffs and its push to get workers back in the office. Six former federal workers spoke to BI about what life is like after being laid off by DOGE. Why so many law-abiding Americans are fine with committing return fraud. These MBAs are ditching corporate America to run unsexy small businesses. The freakiest aspect of the Coldplay "kiss cam" fiasco isn't a potential office affair, writes BI's Katie Notopoulos. But first: Unpacking the new generational debate. If this was forwarded to you, sign up here here. This week's dispatch BI Your ultimate guide to the 'Gen Z stare' Millennials gave us skinny jeans and avocado toast. Gen Z? They've mastered the stare. Yes, that stare — the blank, expressionless look from the younger generation that's been lighting up the internet lately. Is it real? A post-pandemic side effect? A silent cry for help? Or is it just how Gen Z vibes? At Business Insider, we dove headfirst into the phenomenon, decoding the psychology, exploring what it means for careers, and examining how it plays out in the workplace. What is it? As more of Gen Z enters the workforce, some millennials say younger workers greet customers and colleagues with wide eyes, blank expressions, and pregnant pauses. Most of the debate hinges on Gen Zers working customer service roles, like hostessing at restaurants or taking orders at coffee shops. While this could be a sign of workplace awkwardness or underdeveloped soft skills, others are pushing back and saying the trend's blame is misplaced. Is it real? Our resident Gen Zer Amanda Yen says, "It's ironic that millennials are diagnosing their Gen Z counterparts in much the same way boomers diagnosed and pathologized them. Millennials, are you sure you're not just becoming your parents?" The value of silence. BI's Katie Notopoulos, an older millennial, said if you're on the receiving end of the "Gen-Z stare," maybe you're the problem. "One thing I learned is that sometimes silence is the best way to handle a situation. In other words, you might say: Give 'em the 'Gen Z stare.' If someone keeps pushing, eventually you have to leave some silence hanging in the air — no more room for them to negotiate." Just don't get Katie started on how Gen Zers answer the phone! Is screen time to blame? Psychologists and generational experts are weighing in, saying the phenomenon could have more to do with natural growing pains on a first job. There are also factors unique to Gen Z's upbringing, including how the generation has grown up in front of screens. One professor told BI that it's naive to underestimate the impact that COVID-19 shutdowns and online learning could have had on young people's development. What do Gen Zers think? We asked several young people between the ages of 17 and 27 what they thought about the debate. A 21-year-old from Boston thinks the whole thing is overblown. A 20-year-old from the Bay Area said she sees it all the time. A 17-year-old heard from her parents that she had been inadvertently doing it. We asked our readers if they had experienced the "Gen Z stare." The results are in, and spoiler — a majority of you have! Life after DOGE Greg Kahn for BI It's been six months since Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency slashed the federal workforce in an effort to "streamline the Federal Government, eliminate unnecessary programs, and reduce bureaucratic inefficiency." After months of being in limbo, a recent Supreme Court ruling allowed the stalled firings to proceed. In a series of conversations with BI, six former government employees spoke about their career shifts, what life is like outside government work, and more. " I'll always be known as that." One box of fibs at a time The ability to return a purchased item has become a core part of the shopping experience. Retailers say consumers are taking advantage of returns — and a recent report from Appriss Retail and Deloitte found it's costing businesses $103 billion a year. Some consumers are committing outright fraud by shipping back empty boxes or claiming a package never arrived. Others are sending back items after months of use. The culprits are often everyday consumers, and they don't feel bad. A nation of retail fraudsters. Also read: The rise of the anti-Amazon avengers The hot new MBA hustle Lexey Swall for BI Elite millennials like Dan Schweber are quitting corporate America in favor of search funds: the practice of buying and running small businesses, also known as "mini private equity." Plenty of these unglamorous small businesses — like carwashes, plumbing, or snowplowing — are owned by boomers looking to retire. That makes them prime for millennial MBAs like Schweber, who can, in some cases, turn them into multimillion-dollar companies. Here's how they do it. Cut the (kiss) cameras You've probably heard of the viral concert "kiss cam" video that appeared to show Astronomer CEO Andy Byron embracing the company's head of HR Kristin Cabot, then springing apart once they realize they're on camera. The reaction prompted Coldplay's Chris Martin to comment, "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." A potential office affair is good gossip, but BI's Katie Notopoulos thinks there's something more troubling here: the knee-jerk reaction to identify the people in the video. "It was like being the lead investigator on your own murder." — A millennial who was paid to catch people secretly working multiple jobs but ended up joining them. More of this week's top reads: New York's tech elite give Mamdani points for "charisma" — and engaging with them at closed-door meet. Meet the 23-year-old investigators tasked with finding Ukraine's missing soldiers. Elon Musk's North Star is becoming increasingly clear. Amazon's Ring goes full founder mode, taking the company back to its crime-fighting roots. The ex-Amazon employee who's helped nearly 4,000 laid-off workers score jobs. Rideshare drivers use apps to help them judge whether a ride is worth it. Uber and Lyft are trying to kill some of them. Why Sam Altman and OpenAI are making a web browser. Make sure you're doing this in your job search — especially if you're early-career.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Dell's chief HR office 'shares' details of 'Tell Dell' with employees and they are 'Not OK'
The company has reduced its workforce by approximately 25,000 over the past two years, bringing its global employee count to around 108,000 Dell Technologies seems to be facing some internal unrest after the chief human resource officer Jenn Saavedra revealed the results of the company's annual employee engagement survey , 'Tell Dell'. The company claims that the survey is designed to understand the workplace sentiment. As reported by Business Insider, the Tell Dell survey of Dell Technologies revealed a dramatic drop in employee satisfaction . The results of the survey shared by the Saavedra revealed that employee net promoter score (eNPS) has dropped to 32 which is down by 50% over two years. eNPS an important metric which measures how likely employees are to recommend Dell as a workplace. Dell's chief HR office reveals employees at Dell are 'not ok' As reported by Business Insider, chief human resource officer Jenn Saavedra after the 'Tell Dell' survey has acknowledged the eNPS score was 'below the benchmark we aim to achieve' he also attributed the decline to the 'pace and scale of change' within Dell's working environment. Saavedra said the eNPS score was "below the benchmark we do aim to achieve, and we take that seriously.' As per the BI report, Saavedra also told employees that Dell had been "navigating a lot of change both within the company and in the broader environment," adding that the pace and scale of the change had been "a lot." What the Tell Dell survey reveals about the working at Dell As per the survey some of the key factors which are driving discontent among employees. As per the report one of the key reason of discontentment is the return-to-office mandate which require the Dell employees to come to office five-days in a week. Another reason is the ongoing layoffs. The company has reduced its workforce by 25,000 employees in the past two years. Fatigue in the marketing and support teams due to AI-driven restructuring. Finally, the loss of trust and flexibility with employees and lack of job security are also the reason. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo One of the long-time engineer at Dell told BI, 'I was more negative on my Tell Dell than I have ever been.' Despite low eNPS, the score of Dell's leader net promote stood around 76. The employees have praised their managers for being supportive. Saavedra also mentioned that Dell is working to increase transparency via quarterly updates and more engaged team conversations. Dell has also positioned itself as an important player in the AI infrastructure with its ISG division growing 29% year-over-year, and total revenue reaching $95.6 billion in FY2024. However, internally the employees are feeling less optimistic. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Business Insider
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Dell employees are not OK
Every year, Dell asks its employees in a company survey how likely they are to recommend the company as a good place to work. Last year, the results weren't great. This year, they're worse. On Tuesday, Jenn Saavedra, Dell's chief HR officer, announced that the employee net promoter score (eNPS) — an industry-standard measure of employee satisfaction — had fallen to 32, according to a transcript of an internal video update obtained by Business Insider. The results mark a double-digit drop in the eNPS for the second year running at Dell — it fell from 63 to 48 in 2024 — and an almost 50% decline in two years. Saavedra said the eNPS score was "below the benchmark we do aim to achieve, and we take that seriously," per the transcript. Saavedra told employees that Dell had been "navigating a lot of change both within the company and in the broader environment," adding that the pace and scale of the change has been "a lot." Dell declined a request for comment from BI for this story. 'Tell Dell' survey results The eNPS score is the key metric from Dell's annual survey, called "Tell Dell." One question asks employees to rank how likely they would be to recommend Dell as a great place to work to someone they know on a scale from 1 to 10. The eNPS is calculated as the percentage of promoters minus the percentage of detractors. Four Dell employees who spoke to BI about the Tell Dell results raised factors like Dell's RTO, ongoing layoffs, fatigue with the company's AI push, and a shift in culture as reasons for the eNPS decline. They spoke on the condition of anonymity. BI has verified their identities and employment. "There's been a general decrease in trust with all the regular layoffs and feeling like the company isn't listening to employee concerns," said one employee who is based at Dell's Round Rock headquarters. The person said that office conditions, such as "noisy rooms and desks that feel temporary," were also contributing to low morale. "Most people I know are not feeling secure in their jobs," they added. "I was more negative on my Tell Dell than I have ever been," a Dell engineer who has been at the company for more than eight years, told BI. The engineer said they felt the company's RTO push and layoffs had damaged Dell's reputation as a good place to work. Previously, managers were flexible, workforce reductions were rare, and employees enjoyed a good work-life balance, the engineer said. They said they felt company culture had changed as they had been "gradually and with decreasing compassion and understanding forced back into the office." "The constant layoffs are just the cherry on top," the engineer added. Dell has been steadily ramping up its RTO policy since February 2024, when it asked all US employees to classify themselves as either hybrid or remote — roughly 50% opted to stay remote. In September, the sales team was called back to the office five days a week, and in January, all staff living near a Dell office were told they were required to be in five days a week from March. Vivek Mohindra, Dell's senior vice president of corporate strategy, previously told BI that having staff in the office brought "huge benefits," including "learning from each other, training, and mentorship." "For all the technology in the world, nothing is faster than the speed of human interaction," CEO Michael Dell told staff in an internal memo when the 5-day RTO was announced. Alongside the RTO push, Dell's workforce has shrunk significantly in recent years. An SEC filing from March showed that the company's staff numbers have fallen by 25,000 in the last two years — a 19% reduction. As of January 2025, Dell employs 108,000 people. One tech support employee based at the company's RoundRock headquarters said the fall in head count had led to increased workloads on their team. At the same time, the ongoing workforce reductions have held back internal movement and promotions, the employee said. Dell's leadership was a bright spot While the survey shows employee satisfaction has fallen, Dell workers responded favourably to questions about leaders. The leader net promotion score (NPS) was 76, with employees saying their leaders were supportive, collaborative, and helped them champion modernization, Saavedra said in the update. Dell has been steering the company toward an AI future, rolling out AI across its internal operating model in 2024 and positioning Dell as a leading provider of the key infrastructure and servers that companies require as they deploy AI. Dell's ISG division, which develops AI servers, has grown 29% year on year, the company reported in its latest annual results. Total annual revenue was up 8% in its 2024 financial year to hit $95.6 billion — its third-highest result after the pandemic-era boom in sales helped push annual revenue to a peak of $102.3 billion. Improving employee satisfaction In the six-minute video update, Saavedra said Dell would be "increasing visibility" through quarterly updates and people leader meetings to help develop more transparent communication. "Everyone wants direct communication from leadership and clarity on where we're headed and why," Saavedra said. Leaders would also be reviewing their team's Tell Dell results and turning feedback into action, she said. The HR lead encouraged more frequent two-way conversations between leaders and teams, and suggested employees use available well-being resources. "Hopefully, the score getting cut in half over 2 years means they are going to make popular pro-worker changes," the tech support worker told BI.
