A CEO Who Pays Employees to De-Locate from the Bay • Hacker News Board

Re: A CEO Who Pays Employees to De-Locate from the Bay

#11

Post by s73ver_ » Fri, Aug 18, 2017, 5:26 PM UTC

Ok, so I "delocate". Do I then have to take a pay cut because I'm now somewhere else?

Spreading the tech sector out around the country even more is great, and things like this can be a step in the right direction. But a big part of why the Bay Area is what it is has to do with funding. Most VCs are there, and don't seem to be willing to move away. Hell, YC requires you to be there, at least during your time with them. And the concentration of tech talent means that it's always easy to find a new job, or even to start your own company.

Re: A CEO Who Pays Employees to De-Locate from the Bay

#12

Post by sidlls » Fri, Aug 18, 2017, 5:30 PM UTC

watty wrote: post #3

This seems pretty genius. There is a surplus of highly skilled engineers in the Bay Area who are getting mediocre pay (when cost of living is taken into consideration). This allows Zapier to attract more of these highly skilled workers and not pay a premium to those in the bay area.

When compared to cost of living, sure. But factor in savings rate and opportunities and the cost of living cut is well worth it.

For example, I pay 2.5x in rent for a smaller place compared to what I was paying for a mortgage before I moved here. But my salary is 2x and a bit, and I'm saving more than 2x as a result.

Re: A CEO Who Pays Employees to De-Locate from the Bay

#13

Post by alexbanks » Fri, Aug 18, 2017, 5:32 PM UTC

s73ver_ wrote: post #11

Ok, so I "delocate". Do I then have to take a pay cut because I'm now somewhere else? Spreading the tech sector out around the country even more is great, and things like this can be a step in the right direction. But a big part of why the Bay Area is what it is has to do with funding. Most VCs are there, and don't seem to be willing to move away. Hell, YC requires you to be there, at least during your time with them…

> And the concentration of tech talent means that it's always easy to find a new job, or even to start your own company.

I've never been there, but I see this echoed a lot. Is it actually true? I'm interested in both, but I'm wary of the exaggeration that may be "it's easy".

Re: A CEO Who Pays Employees to De-Locate from the Bay

#14

Post by zitterbewegung » Fri, Aug 18, 2017, 5:34 PM UTC

So by giving them a $10k carrot they can basically lock them in to the company because it would be much more difficult to interview for competitors or even start startups. That's pretty genius.

Re: A CEO Who Pays Employees to De-Locate from the Bay

#15

Post by WalterSear » Fri, Aug 18, 2017, 5:34 PM UTC

stevecalifornia wrote: post #7

Move to Washington State. Don't pay California income tax. Instant 8% boost to your take-home pay.

But I don't want to work for Amazon or Microsoft or at Google's satellite office.

Re: A CEO Who Pays Employees to De-Locate from the Bay

#16

Post by dawnerd » Fri, Aug 18, 2017, 5:38 PM UTC

stevecalifornia wrote: post #7

Move to Washington State. Don't pay California income tax. Instant 8% boost to your take-home pay.

And if you're one of those people that really hate taxes, live in Vancouver, WA and buy everything in Portland.

Re: A CEO Who Pays Employees to De-Locate from the Bay

#17

Post by mwfunk » Fri, Aug 18, 2017, 5:38 PM UTC

sabujp wrote: post #2

"was if you're in the Bay Area and you take a job with Zapier we'll pay $10,000 to help you relocate to anywhere, or as we call it, de-locate." ..so this is just a one time re-location "bonus"? I think many large companies "pay you" something close to this amount to re-locate to the bay area. This really doesn't help that much. What would be better is to pay bay area salaries/rates in another part of the country that…

Many/most companies pay something like this for relocation. I never thought of it as a bonus, rather a way for an employer to offset the expense and misery of moving. If a company didn't help pay for relocation, I wouldn't want to work for that company. It's not a bonus, it's an expectation.

Re: A CEO Who Pays Employees to De-Locate from the Bay

#18

Post by ntolia » Fri, Aug 18, 2017, 5:38 PM UTC

alexbanks wrote: post #13

s73ver_ wrote: post #11

Ok, so I "delocate". Do I then have to take a pay cut because I'm now somewhere else? Spreading the tech sector out around the country even more is great, and things like this can be a step in the right direction. But a big part of why the Bay Area is what it is has to do with funding. Most VCs are there, and don't seem to be willing to move away. Hell, YC requires you to be there, at least during your time with them…

> And the concentration of tech talent means that it's always easy to find a new job, or even to start your own company. I've never been there, but I see this echoed a lot. Is it actually true? I'm interested in both, but I'm wary of the exaggeration that may be "it's easy".

Honestly, the answer will really vary depending on who you talk to. That said, if you have worked hard and built a network in the area, those things are actually true. Even around 2001/2002 as well as 2008/2009 there were always jobs around if you knew where to go look. Similarly, if one has established a reputation for themselves (one doesn't need to be a public figure though), it makes it easier to get something off the ground.

Re: A CEO Who Pays Employees to De-Locate from the Bay

#19

Post by jamesmishra » Fri, Aug 18, 2017, 5:40 PM UTC

alexbanks wrote: post #13

s73ver_ wrote: post #11

Ok, so I "delocate". Do I then have to take a pay cut because I'm now somewhere else? Spreading the tech sector out around the country even more is great, and things like this can be a step in the right direction. But a big part of why the Bay Area is what it is has to do with funding. Most VCs are there, and don't seem to be willing to move away. Hell, YC requires you to be there, at least during your time with them…

> And the concentration of tech talent means that it's always easy to find a new job, or even to start your own company. I've never been there, but I see this echoed a lot. Is it actually true? I'm interested in both, but I'm wary of the exaggeration that may be "it's easy".

Starting a company is always unbelievably difficult, but the Bay Area's density makes things a little easier.

I used to live in an apartment on 55 9th St, San Francisco. The guy in the apartment across the hall also started a company at the same time as me. He introduced me to other founder friends in the apartment building.

The lobby has a coffee shop where I've made other founder, angel, and VC friends.

And I haven't even started enumerating all my other startup-y friends I made outside of my own apartment lobby.

I got very lucky, and your own mileage may vary, but if you're looking for helpful startup-y people, the Bay Area is still the world capital.

Re: A CEO Who Pays Employees to De-Locate from the Bay

#20

Post by phamilton » Fri, Aug 18, 2017, 5:40 PM UTC

sabujp wrote: post #2

"was if you're in the Bay Area and you take a job with Zapier we'll pay $10,000 to help you relocate to anywhere, or as we call it, de-locate." ..so this is just a one time re-location "bonus"? I think many large companies "pay you" something close to this amount to re-locate to the bay area. This really doesn't help that much. What would be better is to pay bay area salaries/rates in another part of the country that…

$10k is usually the signing bonus I get for just changing companies. Is this in addition to the signing bonus?