Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Google employees who work from home could lose money

reuters.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

531–540 of 699 posts

Re: Google employees who work from home could lose money

#531

Post by colinmhayes »

washadjeffmad wrote: post #274
ashtonkem wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s also awful timing. After what, 18 months of productive WFH now they want to cut salary?

People collectively don't seem to know how to value their labor. If anything, they should argue for a pay increase to offset the costs Google is externalizing in utilities, on-site benefits, need for security, food, space, etc. If Google is progressive, they should buck the trend and do something like build sound-proof office-apartments that employees can hotel in for a few days at a time, and allow children. That wo…

You misunderstand how companies decide salaries. You aren't paid the value you provide your company. You don't get a raise if you save the company money.

You are paid the least the company thinks it can pay to get an acceptable applicant to fill your position. The truth is that there are many capable people who would prefer to work remote, and they're willing to take a pay cut to make that happen. Therefore companies don't need to pay remote workers as much.

Re: Google employees who work from home could lose money

#532

Post by WhompingWindows »

boplicity wrote: post #99

The cost of commuting on the environment is extremely high. We should be offering incentives to companies to switch to remote work. If 20% of jobs permanently switched to remote, the impact on carbon emissions would be immediate, and extremely positive.

What should the companies then do about their huge campuses with all of the fine amenities? Maybe they could make little work-hotels and employees could stay for retreats and such?

Re: Google employees who work from home could lose money

#533

Post by rtlfe »

AlbertCory wrote: post #513
Raphael_Amiard wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm used to the conversation in here being extremely US-centric, but realize that this is much less true for European cities with good public transportation. I haven't ever used a car to go to work in my life. I'm also very concerned about this better world where people stay home to save the planet. The common level of social interactions in the modern world is already low enough in my opinion. EDIT: It rarely happen…

"The problem is the whole american lifestyle" We're not Europeans here, Raphael. We don't want to be. Secondly, I've been on business trips to the UK, and the motorways are jammed in the morning, as someone else said here. Maybe 20-somethings live in apartments and take the bus, but even in your country, home ownership is high and many people drive their cars.

> We're not Europeans here, Raphael. We don't want to be.

Speak for yourself. Almost everybody I know would be thrilled to see better transit, walking, and bicycle options even if it means getting rid of their car and yard.

Re: Google employees who work from home could lose money

#534

Post by Cd00d »

effingwewt wrote: post #487
gen220 wrote: post #422

Relevant goomic: https://goomics.net/347/ For those who can't / don't want to follow the link: it cleverly contrasts how it's perceived as righteous for corporations to engage in tax-arbitrage to maximize profits, but deceptive for employees to engage in cost-of-living arbitrage to maximize quality of life.

Once I was a 'Roadside Assistance Agent' (call center chair-warmer). When I applied it was for a different LOB (line of business). I was applying for tmobile customer service. I did their tests, we spoke of compensation, hours, days available, all that good stuff. I told them I was tired of being on call 24/7 and wanted regular scheduled hours, so I could know exactly when I get off work, plan accordingly and have a…

Oh wow. Now this :point-up: is a comment!

I don't have anything to add. It's just startlingly entertaining.

Re: Google employees who work from home could lose money

#535

Post by [deleted] »

erinan wrote: post #217
mumblemumble wrote: post #156

> One Google employee, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, typically commutes to the Seattle office from a nearby county and would likely see their pay cut by about 10% by working from home full-time, according estimates by the company's Work Location Tool launched in June. > The employee was considering remote work but decided to keep going to the office - despite the two-hour commute. This seems…

2-hour commute? I'll take the pay cut anytime, like is too short... (and maybe start looking for another job, easier to do with all that "extra" time)

[deleted]

Re: Google employees who work from home could lose money

#537

Post by rtlfe »

vp8989 wrote: post #409
boplicity wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The European vision of living in dense, walkable neighborhoods, with easy access to quality amenities without the need to drive makes sense, to me at least, as the answer to this problem. I'm not advocating for staying home; I'm advocating for less driving. It may not make as much of a difference in the E.U., but if we're aiming to be carbon neutral, less driving will be necessary, or, at least, extremely helpful in…

"The European vision of living in dense, walkable neighborhoods, with easy access to quality amenities without the need to drive makes sense, to me at least, as the answer to this problem." What vision? People in Europe drive cars. The cars are smaller and things are less sprawled out than in the US, but people still drive. Europe is not just central London or Barcelona.

> People in Europe drive cars.

Of course some do, but far fewer than in the US. France and UK have roughly half the number of cars per capita compared to the US.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_vehicles_...

Re: Google employees who work from home could lose money

#538

Post by wutbrodo »

52-6F-62 wrote: post #313
wutbrodo wrote: post #282

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Google was previously known in the wider world for imposing longer than average work days under the guise of "you love it here at the office we have pingpong and rock climbing". Honesty, in my experience this impression is just desperate cope from people with worse work environments. My time at Google was the easiest/most relaxing of my career by far. Hell, that's why I left. But whenever people would ask me about…

Hey hey—I didn't say one way or the other whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. But I've been in and out of Google (Waterloo). They were there long, long hours often. Just the same, people seemed happy and fulfilled. I don't think I would be—I covet my time. But I recognize that it wasn't designed around me, so whatever. It's a fact of the process though: Google wanted people in the office longer, so they insta…

> Hey hey—I didn't say one way or the other whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. But I've been in and out of Google (Waterloo). They were there long, long hours often. Just the same, people seemed happy and fulfilled.

"Imposing" in your original comment is doing a lot of work here. Creating an environment that benefits your employees and allows them to be happier, more fulfilled, _and_ more productive doesn't quite fit the framing of being "imposed" upon.

You could just as well say that companies who allow remote work are "imposing" longer hours/more productivity on those for whom a flexible schedule is a better fit. But that renders the point meaningless.

Re: Google employees who work from home could lose money

#540

Post by wutbrodo »

mmmmmbop wrote: post #503
wutbrodo wrote: post #282

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Google was previously known in the wider world for imposing longer than average work days under the guise of "you love it here at the office we have pingpong and rock climbing". Honesty, in my experience this impression is just desperate cope from people with worse work environments. My time at Google was the easiest/most relaxing of my career by far. Hell, that's why I left. But whenever people would ask me about…

> My time at Google was the easiest/most relaxing of my career by far. Hell, that's why I left. Would you mind if I reach out to you? I'd be curious to learn more about your life/career path, if you're willing to share.

Sure, how can I reach you
Post reply on HN