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

Startups Are Scooping Up Big Tech’s Cast-Off Workers

wsj.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

161–170 of 349 posts

Re: Startups Are Scooping Up Big Tech’s Cast-Off Workers

#161

Post by groby_b »

_vbnz wrote: post #29

American engineers are lucky to earn enough to be able to save up and do stuff like this, like on $200k you can save enough to really try a start-up for a year or two. Whereas in Europe we're lucky to get $80k in the same jobs, and then the state steals half of that :/

On the flipside, we have no health insurance when we're laid off, and even getting the sniffles costs a fortune. As for layoffs, last I checked Europe has meaningful worker protections. Neither do we get six weeks of vacation over here. Parental leave (unless you're FAANG) is iffy. Unless you happen to conform to a demographic shape, you'll get treated pretty shittily by everybody, including the state.

But if you like living without a net in exchange for high pay, by all means, come over here.

Re: Startups Are Scooping Up Big Tech’s Cast-Off Workers

#162

Post by unity1001 »

throwaw12 wrote: post #137
boondoggle16 wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of b2b opportunities. Yes, more saas companies are needed, in niche markets. Lots more saas companies, lots more value to build.

any examples? At this point, it seems everything has been already build (saying as a person who only worked in IT and don't have visibility on other industries, but would like to get some)

Everything was already built in 2005. It turned out that the more things are already built, the more things people build, and that requires building even more things on top of it...

Re: Startups Are Scooping Up Big Tech’s Cast-Off Workers

#163

Post by danenania »

boondoggle16 wrote: post #128
bilsbie wrote: post #125

I don’t understand what the opportunities for startups are these days. Anyone know? I feel like the world doesn’t need more saas companies or otherwise you’re doing a chatgpt api company.

A lot of b2b opportunities. Yes, more saas companies are needed, in niche markets. Lots more saas companies, lots more value to build.

New companies create new workflows. New workflows create new problems, which become opportunities for new companies. New companies create new workflows, which create new problems...

Re: Startups Are Scooping Up Big Tech’s Cast-Off Workers

#164

Post by thephyber »

cjdoc29 wrote: post #146
busterarm wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

New York and California steal (at least) half too. At least in Europe you get something for your taxes (okay, except maybe Germany).

Can you expand on the "at least half" part? On an income of $200k in California, for example, your tax rate is something like 8% (marginal). If you total it up with federal taxes, it's something like a 27% tax rate.

Most likely your parent misunderstands the _marginal_ income tax rates.

That said, income tax is not the only kind of tax. In the US, federated government entities mean a mesh of taxes accumulate. Income tax + Payroll Tax + Social Security + Medicare + Property Tax + Sales Tax aggregate. CA and NY are a little higher than other competing states, but not by much.

Re: Startups Are Scooping Up Big Tech’s Cast-Off Workers

#165

Post by spondylosaurus »

boc wrote: post #135
iancmceachern wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We also have to pay a lot more out of pocket for basic services like healthcare,, transportation, childcare, etc.

You’re paying for healthcare at a tech company? Usually your company provides this as a benefit. Same for commuter subsidies.

Depending on the plan, you may still be on the hook for part of your premium. And if you have any dependents (kids, spouse, etc.) the cost of their premiums is fully your responsibility.

Re: Startups Are Scooping Up Big Tech’s Cast-Off Workers

#166

Post by nicenewtemp84 »

ReflectedImage wrote: post #150
nicenewtemp84 wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then the company made a huge mistake letting them go, unless the company was just FULl of extremely talented engineers.. which statistically just isn't true.

nicenewtemp84 believes that large companies layoff engineers based on skill. The truth: Eenie meenie miny moe

ReflectedImage thinks large companies layoff engineers based on a random number picker.

The truth: everyone knows who the underperformers are.

Re: Startups Are Scooping Up Big Tech’s Cast-Off Workers

#167

Post by nicenewtemp84 »

burnte wrote: post #157
nicenewtemp84 wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then the company made a huge mistake letting them go, unless the company was just FULl of extremely talented engineers.. which statistically just isn't true.

Companies this profitable and large often actually overhire a small degree to deny the competition talent and to give a layer of people that can be laid off to boost profits quickly to make a board think management is good. Google or FB can lay off 5k people and not even NOTICE a change in productivity, but the boards eat it up.

They might hire to scoop people up, but when they fire, don't they fire based on performance? Or is it purely a random pick?

Re: Startups Are Scooping Up Big Tech’s Cast-Off Workers

#168

Post by swamp40 »

Demoloto wrote: post #30

Then move if you don't like a social government... You do understand that USA rich people living of the life's of the poor? No proper health care etc for people cleaning their flats or flipping their burgers...

Not true at all. In fact the poorer you are, the better health care you get - all free. It's the middle class who get crushed in America. $2000/mo insurance with $5K deductibles for a family of 4.

Re: Startups Are Scooping Up Big Tech’s Cast-Off Workers

#170

Post by boc »

virtualritz wrote: post #53
dantheman wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are you talking about? The US has one of the most progressive tax systems, and like 50% of people don't even pay income tax. The government wastes money and the medical establishment is corrupt -- but that has nothing to do with rich people living off of the poor. The poor in America are far richer than the poor in most other countries.

> The poor in America are far richer than the poor in most other countries. You probably mean the US/Canada. 'America' includes South America for which this is not generally true. However, replace 'America' in your sentence with any developed country and the statement is indeed generally true. And thusly of little value to this discussion. Specifically it doesn't change the fact that the poor in the US are much poore…

In the English language America, American, Americans all refer to the country and citizens of the United States.

I don’t know why people from other continents think it’s some sort of gotcha to say otherwise. It’s incorrect.

Post reply on HN