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Ask HN: Do You Consider Remote a Working Perk?

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

#61

Post by Anticapitalist »

g00gler wrote: post #53

I think remote work is a benefit when you’re sitting in a cubicle farm 8 hours a day, some days of the week. I’m much, much happier when working from home and can focus much better when it’s required. Definitely not a “taxable benefit”, though, in the sense that you get a decreased salary in exchange for it. You bring up very good points about working 100% remote, though. It should not constitute a decreased salary u…

The expenses you list would be paid by the company for in-office work. They should not lower your compensation.

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

#62

Post by late2part »

whack wrote: post #51

We're getting hung up on semantics here. What's going on is really a negotiation tactic. Here's what the company is thinking: - dizzystar would enjoy working remote - it would be hard for dizzystar to find other remote-working opportunities - hence, dizzystar would be willing to work for a discounted rate, in order to be remote In their perspective, there is no "right or wrong". It's purely a matter of negotiation le…

^this. While there is an objective and subjective truth, in this case it's just about negotiation.

If I were you, I would follow up on your thoughts with something like:

"I don't think it's appropriate for us to make remote or in-office location related to salary. You're hiring me to get things done. I incur higher costs by maintaining a higher office. What recompense do you offer for costs of running a remote office since your office costs are deferred?"

Or maybe softer, but that should take the idea off the table for them.

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

#63

Post by dizzystar »

whack wrote: post #51

We're getting hung up on semantics here. What's going on is really a negotiation tactic. Here's what the company is thinking: - dizzystar would enjoy working remote - it would be hard for dizzystar to find other remote-working opportunities - hence, dizzystar would be willing to work for a discounted rate, in order to be remote In their perspective, there is no "right or wrong". It's purely a matter of negotiation le…

Right, I did go with a variant on option 3.

If it matters, I've only worked on site for one job. I've always been remote otherwise. I probably should have mentioned it in my OP, but really was wondering more about the general perspective on remote.

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

#64

Post by dizzystar »

g00gler wrote: post #53

I think remote work is a benefit when you’re sitting in a cubicle farm 8 hours a day, some days of the week. I’m much, much happier when working from home and can focus much better when it’s required. Definitely not a “taxable benefit”, though, in the sense that you get a decreased salary in exchange for it. You bring up very good points about working 100% remote, though. It should not constitute a decreased salary u…

>>> You bring up very good points about working 100% remote, though. It should not constitute a decreased salary unless you’re not working full time remote

Why do you think this?

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

#65

Post by iamcasen »

Think carefully about this negotiation. I've been down this road before, and I feel I was a bit too quick to decrease my salary. Many times companies will use the region you work remote from to compute your salary. So if you live in Colorado and work for a company in SF, they might try and pay you a Colorado rate.

The funny thing about that is, many times they will probably be offering to pay for relocation costs, and a full SF salary when you do relocate.

In my mind, if they are willing to pay for relocation, and a full salary AND the real estate costs of having you sitting in the office, then they should be willing to pay you the salary you expect.

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

#67

Post by git-pull »

Every programmer wants remote unless otherwise stated.

Work Remotely. Salary. Benefits. Software Stack. Chill Boss. That is what matters.

Just about anything else the startups have to offer is categorized as "meta". Not helping things ship.

Devs don't care about "culture". What does that mean? Mandatory stand-ups, weekly 2-hour meetings, signalling "values", and these group photos where everybody forces a smile? (You haven't exited. What is there to celebrate about?)

They don't want the politics. Colleagues trying to justify why they're there, instead of being in a conscience frame of mind to better the company. Anything else not helping the product to market (shipping), gaining users, and retaining them.

The requirement of "on-site", unless there's a legit reason, has become a red flag that invokes an image of a boss in a suit, reclining in their Aeron chair, that's an insecure, yapping, "expert beginner" micro manager who won't heed technical advice; a bozo.

So what makes a "Chill Boss" for programmers? A correlation worth testing is greater software development experience than employees. As opposed to just having a history going straight into management soon as possible.

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

#68

Post by mighty_bander »

It costs me about 600 dollars a month to commute to work where I live. So yes, if push came to shove, I would take a hit roughly equivalent to that, all else being equal. I might even go above that, because I greatly value working from home.

That said, in a salary negotiation, I don't think I would let that slip. As you have pointed out, remote work is a mutually beneficial situation, and just as I save money, so does the company. It makes sense to share the savings, and charge about the same rate one normally would in the region in which one lives.

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

#69

Post by potta_coffee »

Think about how much money the company is saving by not reserving you a desk in an office space, etc. You may save some money on a commute, they definitely save money by you being remote. Since it's a money-saving move for them, why should you lower your salary? IMO salary should be dependent on other factors like what you're worth on the market and how much it would cost them to find an equivalent employee.

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

#70

Post by passiveincomelg »

edc117 wrote: post #59
RickJWagner wrote: post #50

I love working remotely. It's not for everybody. Some people need the social interaction at the office. But I love not having a commute to work, the convenience of having the extra time, saving on gas, meals, etc. For me, it's become the primary perk of the job.

Just my two cents, but agree completely. Remote lets me focus on my work better, and skipping the commute is a huge benefit to my mood overall. Plus far less gas, car maintenance, I can go for a run during lunch... It's also hard to overstate the freedom it gives you - you can literally live anywhere in the US you please. It's not for everyone but I don't think I could go back at this point.

And when you say "US" you mean "world", right? :)
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