Most companies have very low IQ. Don’t expect any strong reasoning from them.
Ask HN: Why do companies pay new hires more than long time employees?
21–30 of 47 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why do companies pay new hires more than long time employees?
#22If they don't, the new hire goes to another company that does. Here is another, but related question: why don't long time employees look for a better paying opportunity?
> Here is another, but related question: why don't long time employees look for a better paying opportunity?
The devil you know is often better than the devil you don't know.
Why risk ending up with a bad employer for more pay if you can already coast at an OK employer for good enough pay?
I see it much like that Treehouse Of Horror episode of The Simpsons where Homer time travels to the past and finally comes back to the present to discover that everything is the same except everyone now has a long tongue they eat with; after all the things he went through earlier, his response is "Eh... close enough."
Re: Ask HN: Why do companies pay new hires more than long time employees?
#23Most companies have very low IQ. Don’t expect any strong reasoning from them.
>> Most companies have very low IQ
Go get rich then.
Re: Ask HN: Why do companies pay new hires more than long time employees?
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
Looking for a job is another part time job, at least for engineers who need to take technical tests.
Well, this is why licensing exists.
My wife is in a licensed field. She still has interviews.
Not the technical take home type, but she still spends 1+ days for every company she pursues. Total time is not much different than what I do per interview.
Re: Ask HN: Why do companies pay new hires more than long time employees?
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
Except tomatoes are more than 4 times as expensive as potatoes. :D
I guess it might depend on where you are
What place has potatoes more expensive than tomatoes?
Outside of Asia, which is more rice-based than potato-based, potatoes have a hard-earned centuries-old reputation of food for poor people (cheap to farm, not much nutritional value). But even after checking the prices in Japan, tomatoes are several times more expensive.
Maybe you’re not looking at the price per kilogram, but price of package for packaged vegetables?
Re: Ask HN: Why do companies pay new hires more than long time employees?
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
Looking for a job is another part time job, at least for engineers who need to take technical tests.
I know very well. But that new hire somehow managed to find that time, didn't they? If they are that much better than the long term folks, than the salary parity seems to be justified by that also.
It's easier to find the time if you're already laid off / between jobs, or your current position is awful for whatever reason. Otherwise, for most folks with tolerable jobs and things to keep them busy outside of work, it's tough to justify the time (especially since it often entails taking time off work).
Re: Ask HN: Why do companies pay new hires more than long time employees?
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
I guess it might depend on where you are
What place has potatoes more expensive than tomatoes? Outside of Asia, which is more rice-based than potato-based, potatoes have a hard-earned centuries-old reputation of food for poor people (cheap to farm, not much nutritional value). But even after checking the prices in Japan, tomatoes are several times more expensive. Maybe you’re not looking at the price per kilogram, but price of package for packaged vegetable…
I feel like this isn’t the best place to litigate the price of tomatoes
Re: Ask HN: Why do companies pay new hires more than long time employees?
#28If they don't, the new hire goes to another company that does. Here is another, but related question: why don't long time employees look for a better paying opportunity?
> why don't long time employees look for a better paying opportunity?
comfort, convenience, they know all the shortcuts, they know the tribe, they know the people who that will help them and the people to avoid. They pick up the phone and get the thing they are looking for in 5mins, no begging required. A learning curve can be a b*tch, and folks that have been sitting in the same chair for 20y got nothing new to learn. If they are smart they are doing 100% of their tasks at 50% of the time, so they nap at home, or take really long coffee breaks in the office. Work is close to home (probably) and getting another job that is 30mins driving more (meaning 1h/day, 5h/week) ain't worth the extra $500 per month.
Also, 'better the devil you know'.
Re: Ask HN: Why do companies pay new hires more than long time employees?
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, this is why licensing exists.
My wife is in a licensed field. She still has interviews. Not the technical take home type, but she still spends 1+ days for every company she pursues. Total time is not much different than what I do per interview.
Yes fields that are easy to get into and licenses are easy to get have natural filters
Re: Ask HN: Why do companies pay new hires more than long time employees?
#30This is like saying why are potatoes more expensive than tomatoes. Well because the market decided so
That's true, but the question is why is the market doing that? What is it about the new hire that is worth more?