Too bad they're still not available in every state.
San Francisco Startup ZenPayroll Raises $20M, Finds Novel Ways to Lure Workers
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Re: San Francisco Startup ZenPayroll Raises $20M, Finds Novel Ways to Lure Workers
#12> Mr. Reeves said he’s been “amazed at the changes” and has watched housing prices rise. Local companies should take some responsibility, he said. And to take "some responsibility", he made it easier to push housing prices even higher by subsidizing already well-off employees?
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Re: San Francisco Startup ZenPayroll Raises $20M, Finds Novel Ways to Lure Workers
#13Hopefully they use some of this funding to start expanding to new states quicker. I was told last year they'd be available in my state by Q3 2103. That deadline came and went and now I'm being told "by the end of 2014."
The current major companies offering payroll (SurePayroll and ADP) are both expensive difficult to use. I'm currently with SurePayroll and it sucks major balls. It's expensive, (I have 1 full time employee and 1 part time employee that I pay both by check and I think it's upwards of $80 a month for the two of them). Simple tasks that should be easy take multiple steps. I tried updating my bank account information and they required me to fax it in. I'm under 30 and have never used a fax machine. Huge time drain just to update an account and routing number.
I want so badly to switch to ZenPayroll, as I've read so many great things about it. I'll keep crossing my fingers they'll hurry up and get more states on board. The online payroll space is absolutely ready for a game changer, and a company that gets it right will make a ton of money.
Re: San Francisco Startup ZenPayroll Raises $20M, Finds Novel Ways to Lure Workers
#14The "Novel Ways:" 1) Housing stipend of $500/mo if employees live within a 10-minute walk of the office 2) A semi-annual retreat / hackathon where employees cook meals, hang out, bond, code, and present their projects 3) Plane ticket anywhere in the world that must be used between their 1 and 2-year anniversary at the company. I know of many companies that already do #1 and #2, but I suppose I haven't heard of this c…
The free vacation ticket is a creative perk, and it's nice that they reward people after a year, but I don't think it's actually that awesome compared to other popular perks.
If you boil it down to numbers, the most you're looking at is a $2000 round-trip ticket to Japan. So it could be similar to a ~2% salary bonus your first year. But of course in practice, most people will get cheaper tickets, and this bonus doesn't give you anything after year 1. Compare this to the $500 stipend - that's $6k every year, and it directly affects your checkbook, instead of being a perk you may be able to enjoy.
The spirit of it is very nice, as a reward for loyalty. But I think it's always useful to look at the bottom line as well.
Re: San Francisco Startup ZenPayroll Raises $20M, Finds Novel Ways to Lure Workers
#15ZenPayroll is hiring: https://zenpayroll.com/careers I'm a software engineer at ZenPayroll, and it's truly an awesome place to work. The founders and team have taken great care to build an amazing company culture, and I'm really excited to see us grow over the next few years.
The lack of remote opportunities is disappointing.
The lack of remote opportunities at every Bay Area company, save for a few prominent ones, is disappointing. I live in the area but am frustrated by the commute, but also cannot afford the premium of living in SF.
But I should stop before this turns into a full on rant...
Re: San Francisco Startup ZenPayroll Raises $20M, Finds Novel Ways to Lure Workers
#16> Mr. Reeves said he’s been “amazed at the changes” and has watched housing prices rise. Local companies should take some responsibility, he said. And to take "some responsibility", he made it easier to push housing prices even higher by subsidizing already well-off employees?
He is using that phrase in the sense of his (perceived) responsibility to his employees, which is undoubtedly stronger than his responsibility to the overall city.
Other than obeying the law and paying taxes, he has no responsibility to the city. Why has it become so fashionable to project obligation onto others? The guy is creating 20+ jobs this year, what more would he need to do to fulfill this "responsibility to the overall city?"
Re: San Francisco Startup ZenPayroll Raises $20M, Finds Novel Ways to Lure Workers
#17The "Novel Ways:" 1) Housing stipend of $500/mo if employees live within a 10-minute walk of the office 2) A semi-annual retreat / hackathon where employees cook meals, hang out, bond, code, and present their projects 3) Plane ticket anywhere in the world that must be used between their 1 and 2-year anniversary at the company. I know of many companies that already do #1 and #2, but I suppose I haven't heard of this c…
The $500 per month housing stipend seems a little disingenuous. If the concern was truly about employees and rising real estate prices, why not raise wages by $6000 across the board? It isn't like real estate magically drops in value half a mile away or commuting longer distances is free. Is the policy an attempt to remove an excuse why an employee can't be in the office? Do they want the ability to call an employee during the evening and have them on site 10 minutes later? Do they want to ability to lower wages in the future with less resentment (it is a lot easier to cut perks than salary)? Maybe it is cynical, but those all sound like more realistic reasons to have a housing stipend based on proximity to the office than true concern for their employees.
Re: San Francisco Startup ZenPayroll Raises $20M, Finds Novel Ways to Lure Workers
#18The "Novel Ways:" 1) Housing stipend of $500/mo if employees live within a 10-minute walk of the office 2) A semi-annual retreat / hackathon where employees cook meals, hang out, bond, code, and present their projects 3) Plane ticket anywhere in the world that must be used between their 1 and 2-year anniversary at the company. I know of many companies that already do #1 and #2, but I suppose I haven't heard of this c…
Interviewed with their lead front-end engineer for a front-end engineering position. Everything was great then he asked me for my "story". I answered as best I could but I guess it wasn't what he wanted to hear so he re-iterated that he wanted to know if he would like working with me. I think that's great thing to determine but was put-off by the question-- I got the feeling I would be working with a bit of a tool. H…
"in this type of culture its expected that you earn less"
Re: San Francisco Startup ZenPayroll Raises $20M, Finds Novel Ways to Lure Workers
#19The "Novel Ways:" 1) Housing stipend of $500/mo if employees live within a 10-minute walk of the office 2) A semi-annual retreat / hackathon where employees cook meals, hang out, bond, code, and present their projects 3) Plane ticket anywhere in the world that must be used between their 1 and 2-year anniversary at the company. I know of many companies that already do #1 and #2, but I suppose I haven't heard of this c…
I've heard Palantir does #1. I live in SF and my office is in SOMA- still takes me about 45 minutes to get to work on Muni. Living in SOMA would be more expensive but palatable with the stipend. That would be very convenient.
Re: San Francisco Startup ZenPayroll Raises $20M, Finds Novel Ways to Lure Workers
#20The "Novel Ways:" 1) Housing stipend of $500/mo if employees live within a 10-minute walk of the office 2) A semi-annual retreat / hackathon where employees cook meals, hang out, bond, code, and present their projects 3) Plane ticket anywhere in the world that must be used between their 1 and 2-year anniversary at the company. I know of many companies that already do #1 and #2, but I suppose I haven't heard of this c…
The $500 per month housing stipend seems a little disingenuous. If the concern was truly about employees and rising real estate prices, why not raise wages by $6000 across the board? It isn't like real estate magically drops in value half a mile away or commuting longer distances is free. Is the policy an attempt to remove an excuse why an employee can't be in the office? Do they want the ability to call an employee…
I don't think it's cynicism at all. It may not be explicitly about being able to call someone up at 8pm, but rather about building a culture where everyone is hanging out at the office all the time and your social circle revolves around your coworkers. That's a deal if the company can get that for $500/month.