4 ms·

I wouldn't be surprised if the big tech companies started bussing in some of their contract labor outside of the bay. The commutes (>1hr each way) are really te

by kurthr 8y ago

I wouldn't be surprised if the big tech companies started bussing in some of their contract labor outside of the bay. The commutes (>1hr each way) are really terrible and there's no way to really live on less than $20/hr full time as a single person... much less care for children. Plenty of those people have an associates/bachelors degree, but without local family support they can't survive.

maxxxxx 8y ago
" wouldn't be surprised if the big tech companies started bussing in some of their contract labor outside of the bay. " When I did a project with Apple in the 90s I often stayed late during my stay and got to chat with some of the cleaners that came in. A lot of them had bus rides of 2-3 hours each way every day to get to their job.
floatingatoll 8y ago
I believe if they were to provide bus commute as a benefit to contractors, the state would force-convert those contractors into employees.
- wutbrodo 8y ago
  I had a friend who worked at Google as a contractor and took the shuttle in to work. I think there was some detail about having to badge in so her rides could be reported and deducted from her pay[1]? The details are fuzzy, but as I recall she just ignored the rule and nobody seemed to care much. The upshot was that she used the cafe and ride services much the same as I (an FTE) did. The existence of those hoops to jump through makes me think that you're probably right that an official service for contractors would probably violate their contractor status, legally speaking. [1] I'm pretty sure I'm remembering part of this incorrectly, because us FTEs were supposed to badge in too to avoid non-Googlers from riding.
  - floatingatoll 8y ago
    You’re right about having it deducted from pay, by one other human report to NYT anyways: https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/technology/10google.html https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/technology/10google.html

by kurthr 8y ago

maxxxxx 8y ago

" wouldn't be surprised if the big tech companies started bussing in some of their contract labor outside of the bay. " When I did a project with Apple in the 90s I often stayed late during my stay and got to chat with some of the cleaners that came in. A lot of them had bus rides of 2-3 hours each way every day to get to their job.

floatingatoll 8y ago

I believe if they were to provide bus commute as a benefit to contractors, the state would force-convert those contractors into employees.

wutbrodo 8y ago
I had a friend who worked at Google as a contractor and took the shuttle in to work. I think there was some detail about having to badge in so her rides could be reported and deducted from her pay[1]? The details are fuzzy, but as I recall she just ignored the rule and nobody seemed to care much. The upshot was that she used the cafe and ride services much the same as I (an FTE) did. The existence of those hoops to jump through makes me think that you're probably right that an official service for contractors would probably violate their contractor status, legally speaking. [1] I'm pretty sure I'm remembering part of this incorrectly, because us FTEs were supposed to badge in too to avoid non-Googlers from riding.
- floatingatoll 8y ago
  You’re right about having it deducted from pay, by one other human report to NYT anyways: https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/technology/10google.html https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/technology/10google.html