Ask HN: Do You Consider Remote a Working Perk? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Do You Consider Remote a Working Perk?

#31

Post by freetime2 » Fri, Jan 26, 2018, 5:56 AM UTC

I value working remotely because it allows me to save time and live in an area that fits my lifestyle. And it costs my company money as they need to pay my travel expenses when I do visit the office, as well as some HR and legal overhead. Many managers also find an employee's presence in the office valuable in and of itself.

I work remote full-time because it's something that I negotiated up front my with employer, but most of my team members are required to come into the office every day (or at least most days). If they work from home too often their manager will notice and "have a chat" with them eventually.

So from that perspective it definitely feels like a perk, and something that I am fine negotiating over as part of a larger compensation package.

Re: Ask HN: Do You Consider Remote a Working Perk?

#32

Post by jraby3 » Fri, Jan 26, 2018, 6:00 AM UTC

It depends on the type of work. Working remotely with fixed hours isn't a perk. However, usually working remotely gives you significantly more control over your own time and schedule, which IMO is a huge perk.

Re: Ask HN: Do You Consider Remote a Working Perk?

#33

Post by fao_ » Fri, Jan 26, 2018, 6:02 AM UTC

TheLastTrekkie wrote: post #18

As computers start to code themselves, remote work will become essential as people (in theory) will have more time to live their day to day lives. But remote working is not that big a perk per se. What is modern work going to be about when it is just metrics and data? we need to rebuild a lot of communities and networks with our new (hopefully) time rich societies.

You got shadowbanned. I'm vouching for you because you seem to be an earnestly new account.

Re: Ask HN: Do You Consider Remote a Working Perk?

#34

Post by Caballera » Fri, Jan 26, 2018, 6:03 AM UTC

I don't think remote work is a perk, but I do find some employers either think or feel that they can pay employees less just because they are remote. I would never work at a place like that.

Re: Ask HN: Do You Consider Remote a Working Perk?

#35

Post by pryelluw » Fri, Jan 26, 2018, 6:05 AM UTC

They are playing you because they know you want this. Hold your ground and walk away if necessary. Remember that you have the control. Not them.

Re: Ask HN: Do You Consider Remote a Working Perk?

#36

Post by scarecrowbob » Fri, Jan 26, 2018, 6:08 AM UTC

I don't consider it a perk, but at this point you'd have to pay me a lot more to come to an office. I don't think that I would (have to?) take less just because they want to hire me.

I agree that "remote work" is a skill into itself, but no matter how much I value that, I don't see how it's costing my employer anything.

If anything they ought to pay me more because they don't ave to provide my office and coffee and whatnot.

Re: Ask HN: Do You Consider Remote a Working Perk?

#37

Post by devilkin » Fri, Jan 26, 2018, 6:20 AM UTC

I find a mix of working on premise and remote the best - on premise keeps you in touch with the company and your colleagues, remote is the best to get stuff done.

They introduced it a while back at my workplace, and tbh, I would not take a job these days where remote work isn't atleast partially on the table.

Saves me between 1 and 3 hours of commute (depending ont he location).

If you'd expect me to come to the office every day... either it has to be somewhere where commuting to is really easy, or pays significantly more. And I'm not even sure I'm willing to compromise on the remote work part.

Re: Ask HN: Do You Consider Remote a Working Perk?

#38

Post by dizzystar » Fri, Jan 26, 2018, 6:23 AM UTC

farnsworthy wrote: post #20

No, working remotely isn't a perk, it's simply: work. [Use of the term "telecommuting" seems like another common giveaway, where and when it appears.] The teams I've worked with have never had difficulty with communicating and collaborating, meeting deadlines and "innovating," and I highly doubt that we're all ninjas (because surely I am not). Typical was my last position: I never clocked in from 9-5, usually from th…

Yeah, I'm definitely like that at times too. Give 4 solid hours, take long break, then gun it when I'm at my most focused, which is often after 6pm.

Re: Ask HN: Do You Consider Remote a Working Perk?

#39

Post by Simulacra » Fri, Jan 26, 2018, 6:24 AM UTC

No. I get more work done at the office, and since I am fortunate to work for a company that doesn't prescribe to an open office plan, it's actually fun being at work sometimes. It's no fun working at home when there's so many cats and dogs that need hugs, Netflix shows to watch, and everything else

Re: Ask HN: Do You Consider Remote a Working Perk?

#40

Post by robotpony » Fri, Jan 26, 2018, 6:35 AM UTC

It's not exclusively a benefit, but it does have some powerful upsides:

* Less commute time and cost (I save 8-10 hours a week, plus a few hundred a month in parking, fuel, and insurance)

* More freedom and flexibility (not every gig offers this, but many do)

* A bunch of focus time

* Communications (oddly) are greatly normalized as everyone has the same handicap. I find a fully remote team easier to manage than a mixed one, as no one has an advantage over another (as happens when part of a team shares the same office).

On the other hand, you're maintaining your office space and much of your setup (internet, wifi, heating, desk, chairs). Again, some jobs offer some compensation here, but some of it will be on the employee to maintain.

You're also more isolated, and team culture takes a bit more work to create and maintain.

Personally, I value the option to work remote as a net gain. I love my home office, I save time and money on the commute, and I have more time to focus than in the office. I understand the company benefits too, as they pay less rent, own fewer fixtures, and get more of my time. But I still see it as a net win for me.