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Buffer Layoffs

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Re: Buffer Layoffs

#361

Post by s_kilk »

bambax wrote: post #347
nilkn wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The $155k salary might be due to the transparency, but could it also be due to a simple inability to pay developers $300k+? That's well over double the CEO's salary. I think it's clear they simply don't have the revenue and cash reserves to pay developers that kind of money. I suspect you'll find this to be true at a lot of smaller startups that rely on actually making money instead of fundraising.

Also, Buffer is entirely remote. I bet many people are willing to take a big pay cut if they don't have to commute to an office building every day (and of course, other people like office life -- but remote positions are rare, so it's normal that they're more "expensive" for employees who really want them).

Also, if you're working remotely from a more affordable location you may not need as much salary in order to live a very comfortable life.

I think our expectations are skewed by the crippling cost of living in SF, New York, London, etc.

Re: Buffer Layoffs

#362

Post by UK-AL »

zenlikethat wrote: post #292
mangeletti wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TBH, that's a win-win. There's nothing better than being content with what you're paid, and then learning that there's huge upside potential. The worst thing ever is finding out that you're in the top 2% of salaries for your role in the industry, and then knowing there's nowhere to go but down from there.

It's not a win win at all. If OP could get a job they were equally happy with in other aspects that paid more and had less commute they would be better off. Their situation is probably fine but it's hard to spin low salary and long commute as positives.

The positive is that your currently happy, but in a easy move increase it even further.

Re: Buffer Layoffs

#363

Post by pc86 »

From a tweet cited in the article (not the author):

> i think @dfjjosh's rule of 50% of ARR to operate and invest without $$$ stress is a really good one. use debt to hack it.

What's the point of taking on debt just to have more cash on hand? Is this a startup-y "growth über alles" type of mentality or is it found in the larger business world as well? I don't see how increasing your burn rate just to have more cash in the bank is a good business decision, especially when you'll pay a premium to have that cash in the form of interest or loan origination.

Re: Buffer Layoffs

#364

Post by pc86 »

phamilton wrote: post #326
gonehome wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They may not pay millions (as far as I know), but I've heard a senior engineer at Netflix can make upwards of $400k/year which is a lot relative to a similar position in other companies.

It's actually comparable to league minimum in Major League baseball, roughly $500k. And I can guarantee that the average minor league player out there makes far less than your average software engineer.

Is your point that because an average software engineer makes 5-10x what a minor league baseball player makes, that a "major league" software engineer should also make 5-10x what an MLB player makes?

Re: Buffer Layoffs

#365

Post by pc86 »

inopinatus wrote: post #290
freddie_mercury wrote: post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not all professional sports pay millions.

Most professional athletes don't earn big money. Rather like music, a very few make it in the big leagues. Of the rest, some find steady work in minor teams; many, many others struggle to get by combining their passion with casual day jobs. If your sport isn't one of the few that can command massive advertising dollars, then there may be no pay at all. The value chain is very clear: all high athlete salaries are ulti…

Statistically underpaid compared to what?

Re: Buffer Layoffs

#366

Post by pc86 »

gohrt wrote: post #203
jes wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recommend thinking carefully about what is to your long-term self-interest, and then acting accordingly. That would include not creating children if you and your partner are not certain that you want them and will do what is required to raise them in a peaceful, loving and rational home.

What if the children are the ones disturbing the peace, not loving, and bering irrational? And how can you be "loving" and "rational" at the same time?

Because you're an adult.

Re: Buffer Layoffs

#367

Post by eloisant »

Bombthecat wrote: post #307
cyberpanther wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree the whole family thing is ridiculous. However, the performance focus of Netflix is probably too far on the other end and ridiculous too. People are not machines and performance will not always remain high. And also measurements of performance of people are often silly and useless. Performance will fluctuate and change with time. So a level a loyalty in the face of bad performance is still very advantageous ev…

As a company, why should you care about keeping low performers? Just hire new ones.

For many reasons:

* Because performance vary with time (personal issues, motivation, etc.) so today's low performer may be tomorrow high performer

* Because your metrics might not be good enough to actually discriminate low performers from high performers

* Because such a policy encourages rivalry between employees instead of cooperation (not in the benefit of the company)

And probably other reasons.

So I have no problem with:

* Letting go people because the company has to reduce man count, and choices have to be made

* Letting go people because their behaviour is hurting the company

However I'm dubious about the idea that you should keep churning employees perceived as "low performers" to hire new ones who may or may not later reveal to be better.

Re: Buffer Layoffs

#368

Post by philjohn »

jpna66dd wrote: post #88
hammock wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$4,000 would barely cover business-class airfare between SF Berlin for one employee. Not to mention accommodations, event space, meals and entertainment.

Are you saying it is customary to fly people business class in the Valley, rather than coach? Especially for a team retreat?

You're forgetting Premium Economy which more providers offer now too. It's a facsimile of business class of old, so no lie flat bed, but you get lots more leg room, wider seat, priority boarding (after 1st and Business) and a better meal.

Re: Buffer Layoffs

#370

Post by detaro »

hathym wrote: post #369

22% of their stuff are happiness heroes [0] !!! WTF !!!!!! [0] https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1l3bXAv8JE5RB9siMq36-...

WTF because of the name or WTF because of the number?
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