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Google, Meta, Amazon hiring low-paid H1B workers after US layoffs

moneycontrol.com

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Re: Google, Meta, Amazon hiring low-paid H1B workers after US layoffs

#81

Post by rrryougi »

iteria wrote: post #17
prng2021 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've personally noticed that H1B tech workers get paid significantly lower than others. It's a shameful business practice and obviously also really hurts the competitiveness of non-visa workers. My guess is that there's no clear market rate for any position. Companies can always say there's a wide range between lowest and highest paid for any given role.

Market rate is based on the national median. So yeah... they do get paid more than the median, but far less than a developer where they work. It's why H1 workers tend to get hired in high paying areas. That's when it's worth it. If they can swing remote, it might be worth it. I've had a California company "lowball" me and I cackled at my amazing raise internally.

That is not true. Prevailing wage also depends on the where you work. https://flag.dol.gov/programs/prevailingwages

Re: Google, Meta, Amazon hiring low-paid H1B workers after US layoffs

#82

Post by znpy »

afavour wrote: post #56
chii wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> H1B at big tech is modern slavery that's putting it too far - they are free to leave or quit as they wish. Unlike the true modern slavery of which is migrant workers (like described here https://www.antislavery.org/world-cup-2022-the-reality-for-m... ), where their passports are confiscated, etc. H1B is exploiting the rules for cheap labour. It does benefit the H1B holder - since they would otherwise not have signe…

“Modern slavery” is definitely an exaggeration but many are also not quite so free to quit. The H1B is a “dual intent” visa, meaning you can apply for permanent residency while you have it. But you must maintain your H1B the entire time, which can be a decade or more for folks from places like India. You can transfer an H1B but it’s not easy and if you quit your job you must line another one up in 60 days or say good…

As long as they’re able to switch job and can leave the states (if they want to) I don’t think that the “slavery” word applies at all.

And I’m saying this because there are places like Dubai where you very often get your passport taken on arrival, can’t leave the state and can’t really go work somewhere else. There is a lot more to say, but that qualifies as “modern slavery”.

Re: Google, Meta, Amazon hiring low-paid H1B workers after US layoffs

#83

Post by mattrighetti »

0xDEF wrote: post #64

>low-paid The minimum annual salary for an H1B worker is $60,000. That is higher than what tech workers get paid in most of Europe.

Comparing salaries for tech workers in the EU vs H1B in the US does not make a lot of sense.

Cost of living, taxation, rents, electricity/gas bills and welfare are completely different.

Re: Google, Meta, Amazon hiring low-paid H1B workers after US layoffs

#84

Post by delfinom »

ftyers wrote: post #3

For H1B don't they have to show that they are paying at least market rate? And isn't it a factor in awarding the visa?

Yea the market rate definitely has shenanigans. And I almost wonder if the "response" to a made up ad with low ball number is used to declare it's a valid market rate.

Case in point, when I graduated 15 years ago. There was a big H1B software farm (Accenture maybe?) That randomly emailed. 2 year contract job, $30k/year out of NYC.

Yea....not a reasonable salary even 15 years ago lmao

Re: Google, Meta, Amazon hiring low-paid H1B workers after US layoffs

#85

Post by firtoz »

api wrote: post #34
greatpostman wrote: post #13

Generally not supposed to say this out loud, but being the only American on an all H1B team at these companies can be absolutely brutal. Very alienating, always missing out on back channel communications, no sympathy for missteps

They also can’t easily quit since if you lose sponsorship you may have to return to your country of origin. It’s not “confiscating passports” level but it’s definitely exploitative.

It happens in the UK too. For example a friend of mine was taken advantage of by the boss who was not hesitant at all to remind her that her existence in the country depended on his approval; so she had to do long hours with unreasonable tasks for little pay.

Re: Google, Meta, Amazon hiring low-paid H1B workers after US layoffs

#86

Post by oceanplexian »

lp4vn wrote: post #41

Me and many other people commented here when the whole thing started that layoffs in a time of record profits and cashflows were basically a strategy to keep salaries low. At this point I honestly don't know how innocent one has to be to think that everything is an organic coincidence and not an orchestrated move. Companies colluding to make the life of workers worse and boost their profits, that has never happened b…

I always have a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to conspiracy stuff like this, but it's not like they weren't busted before.

Apple and Google were caught red handed for their secret anti-poaching agreement (With the Jobs/Schmidt emails leaked to prove it). All these CEOs are in the same social circles, it's not a big reach to think they chat with each other behind the scenes about things like RTO, Layoffs, etc.

Re: Google, Meta, Amazon hiring low-paid H1B workers after US layoffs

#87

Post by afavour »

znpy wrote: post #82
afavour wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“Modern slavery” is definitely an exaggeration but many are also not quite so free to quit. The H1B is a “dual intent” visa, meaning you can apply for permanent residency while you have it. But you must maintain your H1B the entire time, which can be a decade or more for folks from places like India. You can transfer an H1B but it’s not easy and if you quit your job you must line another one up in 60 days or say good…

As long as they’re able to switch job and can leave the states (if they want to) I don’t think that the “slavery” word applies at all. And I’m saying this because there are places like Dubai where you very often get your passport taken on arrival, can’t leave the state and can’t really go work somewhere else. There is a lot more to say, but that qualifies as “modern slavery”.

Yeah I agree “slavery” doesn’t apply here, I’m just disputing how free to leave H1B workers are.

Re: Google, Meta, Amazon hiring low-paid H1B workers after US layoffs

#88

Post by jofi1 »

greatpostman wrote: post #75
jofi1 wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being the odd one out also makes you a target for things like PIP quotas. It's very disturbing to watch, especially as managers try to justify it with phony evidence to save their own.

Happens all the time

Yeah it's absolutely demoralizing and made me leave some teams. Have very little faith in performance reviews and role guidelines

Re: Google, Meta, Amazon hiring low-paid H1B workers after US layoffs

#89

Post by dudul »

hejalajsbsb wrote: post #61
booleandilemma wrote: post #18

I mean, no kidding. Half the people I work with are H-1B. The program takes jobs away from Americans and should be illegal. I want to work with people from my town, not people from halfway across the world.

Are you asserting that there is enough American talent to satisfy the job market and that they are being unjustly suppressed? It’s an interesting idea. Do you have any reading relevant to the topic that supports this assertion?

Maybe the article that created this thread?
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