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Here's another anecdotal story. I just got my visa for Australia so I'm going there in June. I also know 3 other friends who are leaving. We're all leaving b

by kenver 10y ago

Here's another anecdotal story. I just got my visa for Australia so I'm going there in June. I also know 3 other friends who are leaving. We're all leaving because we don't want to be in a country that's so preoccupied with something we don't believe in, so we're voting with our feet. Over the next few years every other issue is going to be sidelined to deal with this.

gambiting 10y ago
Yep. I'm an EU citizen living in UK, and a year ago I would have never considered living somewhere else, like that thought was literally inconceivable. Right now, I'm not so sure. Especially if I'm going to end up needing a visa - why would I go through that trouble? A programmer can easily find work in any EU country still, so why live in a country that I don't agree with? Why would I choose to pay my taxes here, if the government of this country is actively trying to make my life more difficult? I wouldn't, so depending on the sort of the exit deal UK negotiates, I might just get up and leave. Like you said, the only way we can vote right now is with our feet, and by taking our tax money elsewhere.
- GFischer 10y ago
  Is any EU country paying remotely close to the UK for programmers? I'm not in the EU, but one of my brothers in law ended up moving to the U.S. from Austria in part because the pay difference was humongous (and of course the scene is completely different). The only other country he considered was the U.K.
  - gambiting 10y ago
    Even UK doesn't pay super well unless you work for a financial company and are close to London. I'm in the North East, so while I enjoy cheap cost of living, I don't make that much - my salary could easily be matched by pretty much any industry in Germany or France.
  - laurent123456 10y ago
    The UK definitely pays the best rates in the EU. I moved here in part for that reason, though now that the GBP is slowly losing its value it makes less and less sense to stay here.
    - icc97 10y ago
      Do you mean the UK or London?
      - laurent123456 10y ago
        Well London has the highest rates, but if you compare cities of similar sizes from one country to another (Say London to Paris, Sheffield to Lyon, etc.) the rates in British cities are almost always higher.
        ionised 10y ago
        I've been doing a lot of comparisons lately because I'm considering leaving the UK (due to Brexit) and I'm seeing the UK consistently paying far less unless it's the financial services/banking sector.
  - MagnumOpus 10y ago
    Austria/Germany/Benelux vs US is a big difference. Austria/Germany/Benelux vs UK isn't - outside London, the pay is now about the same order of magnitude. While London salaries are higher for now, London living costs are much higher, so disposable income suffers.

by kenver 10y ago

gambiting 10y ago

Yep. I'm an EU citizen living in UK, and a year ago I would have never considered living somewhere else, like that thought was literally inconceivable. Right now, I'm not so sure. Especially if I'm going to end up needing a visa - why would I go through that trouble? A programmer can easily find work in any EU country still, so why live in a country that I don't agree with? Why would I choose to pay my taxes here, if the government of this country is actively trying to make my life more difficult? I wouldn't, so depending on the sort of the exit deal UK negotiates, I might just get up and leave. Like you said, the only way we can vote right now is with our feet, and by taking our tax money elsewhere.

GFischer 10y ago
Is any EU country paying remotely close to the UK for programmers? I'm not in the EU, but one of my brothers in law ended up moving to the U.S. from Austria in part because the pay difference was humongous (and of course the scene is completely different). The only other country he considered was the U.K.
- gambiting 10y ago
  Even UK doesn't pay super well unless you work for a financial company and are close to London. I'm in the North East, so while I enjoy cheap cost of living, I don't make that much - my salary could easily be matched by pretty much any industry in Germany or France.
- laurent123456 10y ago
  The UK definitely pays the best rates in the EU. I moved here in part for that reason, though now that the GBP is slowly losing its value it makes less and less sense to stay here.
  - icc97 10y ago
    Do you mean the UK or London?
    - laurent123456 10y ago
      Well London has the highest rates, but if you compare cities of similar sizes from one country to another (Say London to Paris, Sheffield to Lyon, etc.) the rates in British cities are almost always higher.
      - ionised 10y ago
        I've been doing a lot of comparisons lately because I'm considering leaving the UK (due to Brexit) and I'm seeing the UK consistently paying far less unless it's the financial services/banking sector.
- MagnumOpus 10y ago
  Austria/Germany/Benelux vs US is a big difference. Austria/Germany/Benelux vs UK isn't - outside London, the pay is now about the same order of magnitude. While London salaries are higher for now, London living costs are much higher, so disposable income suffers.