Live data from Hacker News

How to Pay Remote Employees

fredperrotta.com

51–60 of 82 posts

Re: How to Pay Remote Employees

#51
post #44

Article is kind of an ad, but didn't know about Transferwise so glad I read it. Anyone have any comments about Transferwise?

Works great in my experience. It comes out way cheaper than our business banking for paying our workers in Europe from the US.

It's also really easy and convenient, while setting up wire transfers with our Major Bank in the US was complicated and arcane. To date, Major Bank doesn't offer us online wire transfers, for a business account!

We also use TransferWise to accept customer bank payments in Europe, without having an actual presence there.

Re: How to Pay Remote Employees

#52
post #44

Article is kind of an ad, but didn't know about Transferwise so glad I read it. Anyone have any comments about Transferwise?

I used it a bunch of times, it’s great. Usability is awesome and it’s reasonably fast.

Re: How to Pay Remote Employees

#53
post #49
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the U.S. this is how employees work as well -- they can leave a company for any reason at any time. Conversely, employers can dismiss at employee for any reason and at any time as long as it's not illegal.

Are there contracts made so that the relationship between employers and employees is guaranteed/retained over a period of time ?

No, such limitations would likely be illegal (without additional compensation, beyond the wages, also being stipulated for the period where the employee couldn't leave / couldn't be let go) in many states. I have never seen such a guarantee / requirement in an employment contract, such a "key man" provision would likely be reserved for someone who is in possession of some critical knowledge to the company and company is willing to pay for it.

It's a double edged sword. It's easy to be let go (basically, pack your stuff and get out while escorted by security, just like in the movies), but it also makes it much easier for companies to take a risk and hire you. In Europe, hiring someone is a big risk and companies are extremely careful to hire since they're taking on a big responsibility. As a result, permanently contracted positions are even more common in Europe than the US as a result in my experience.

Re: How to Pay Remote Employees

#54

For over five years, I have been offering my remote employees the option of payment, or partial payment, in bitcoin, or in more recent years in whatever other cryptocurrencies they choose. For crypto salary payments, I added about 3%-10% to the amount paid, because processing it was much easier for me, no hassles, no paperwork. It's a one click solution, like Jeff Bezos would say ^_- I also prefer crypto payout metho…

> because processing it was much easier for me, no hassles, no paperwork

Are you saying the payment was completely off the books? That doesn't seem to match "employees"...

Re: How to Pay Remote Employees

#55
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not mention the state? You should contact your state representative (not member of Congress) and state senator (not US Senator) and let them know that you were denied a well-paying job because of the onerous standards your state has for remote work. They might be inclined to change it.

I actually thought I did (it's Florida by the way)... I want to be clear, that I don't blame the state in the slightest. I honestly feel that companies should have to pay taxes where they operate regardless of how many employees live there, but what sucks is that a lot of states have difficult tax codes, esoteric and difficult ways of sending taxes in, have varying laws that make it extremely hard to follow the law u…

Blame the state! A complicated, unwieldy tax code is their/our fault. They created an untenable system that got in the way of you entering into a mutually beneficial contract with another individual(s). It is 100% their fault.

Re: How to Pay Remote Employees

#56
post #47

Cryptocurrencies are a great way to pay remote employees or contractors with low fees.

what are the fees all-in? just buying the thing is say 1% then you have miner's fees of 0.3%? something like that?

Re: How to Pay Remote Employees

#57

For over five years, I have been offering my remote employees the option of payment, or partial payment, in bitcoin, or in more recent years in whatever other cryptocurrencies they choose. For crypto salary payments, I added about 3%-10% to the amount paid, because processing it was much easier for me, no hassles, no paperwork. It's a one click solution, like Jeff Bezos would say ^_- I also prefer crypto payout metho…

> because processing it was much easier for me, no hassles, no paperwork Are you saying the payment was completely off the books? That doesn't seem to match "employees"...

I don't know how you would define employees, contractors etc. But the hard details of the deal have always been strictly an amount of payment for work completed. No more and no less than that. No written contracts, no sick leave, no government insurance, no paid holiday. All those expenses are their responsibility, and they know that.

But the real situation is a little softer, because of course I will be more flexible if a contractor seems to be good and of course they will be more flexible if I have been playing reasonably and fairly with them. Decent people feel happier behaving this way, and wouldn't we all be damn stupid if we didn't behave like decent humans? I try my best to avoid doing business with stupid people.

Re: How to Pay Remote Employees

#58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> because processing it was much easier for me, no hassles, no paperwork Are you saying the payment was completely off the books? That doesn't seem to match "employees"...

I don't know how you would define employees, contractors etc. But the hard details of the deal have always been strictly an amount of payment for work completed. No more and no less than that. No written contracts, no sick leave, no government insurance, no paid holiday. All those expenses are their responsibility, and they know that. But the real situation is a little softer, because of course I will be more flexibl…

What I was going for was: if it's a standard contractor-like payment, what paperwork do you save by using cryptocurrency?

Re: How to Pay Remote Employees

#59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually thought I did (it's Florida by the way)... I want to be clear, that I don't blame the state in the slightest. I honestly feel that companies should have to pay taxes where they operate regardless of how many employees live there, but what sucks is that a lot of states have difficult tax codes, esoteric and difficult ways of sending taxes in, have varying laws that make it extremely hard to follow the law u…

Blame the state! A complicated, unwieldy tax code is their/our fault. They created an untenable system that got in the way of you entering into a mutually beneficial contract with another individual(s). It is 100% their fault.

But it may not have been my state in particular, but the fact that they are all different.

Even the easiest tax system in the world won't make up for the fact that they need to record and charge for tax in that state, then send that money back to the state.

Short of not having sales tax, there really isn't a way that they can simplify it. And again, unless you are a lawyer that knows the tax laws in that area, you won't know how good or bad the local tax system is until you go to try and enter it.

Re: How to Pay Remote Employees

#60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> because processing it was much easier for me, no hassles, no paperwork Are you saying the payment was completely off the books? That doesn't seem to match "employees"...

I don't know how you would define employees, contractors etc. But the hard details of the deal have always been strictly an amount of payment for work completed. No more and no less than that. No written contracts, no sick leave, no government insurance, no paid holiday. All those expenses are their responsibility, and they know that. But the real situation is a little softer, because of course I will be more flexibl…

[deleted]
Post reply on HN