48 ms·

But what if you turn that around? If you are currently remote but considering an offer from a place that's in-office, wouldn't you want a higher wage to compen

But what if you turn that around? If you are currently remote but considering an offer from a place that's in-office, wouldn't you want a higher wage to compensate you for the extra hassle of commuting? That's extra free time you're never getting back.

randallsquared 5y ago
There are people who prefer to work in an office, and some who have that preference even if it puts them on a train for an hour or two a day. As long as we don't get legislation to force employers one way or another, I'd expect employees to self-select into those who like being around others all day, and those who prefer to work in a private office. It's a serendipitous solution we've been presented to all those open plan offices that a certain set hate: you can have your own private office with a view, but you'll pay for it yourself.
- tdfx 5y ago
  But shouldn't the employees that require extra subsidies (office space, commuting reimbursement, office utilities/supplies) receive the same overall compensation as those working from home with lower expense to the company? It seems to me that if being in the office is an optional preference for some, they should carry the cost of it.
  - randallsquared 5y ago
    Yes, that was my poorly-explained point: given that some people prefer to add the cost and time of commuting (possibly in order to rub elbows or attend happy hour), and others prefer to add the cost of a home office (possibly in order to retain focus or make lunch for the family), the costs might turn out similarly, and therefore I hope that remote working doesn't result in systematically lower salaries for those who prefer it.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
actually_a_dog 5y ago
I'll make whichever argument gets me the most money in a salary negotiation.
- isbvhodnvemrwvn 5y ago
  Which is short sighted if you value your time at all. Spending an hour more a day commuting is directly decreasing the value of your life.
  - actually_a_dog 5y ago
    You miss my point, then. If I have to spend that extra hour, I will argue that it needs to be compensated. If I get to WFH, I may argue that I'm paying for dedicated office space at home and that the value of my work is the same here as in the office.
  - crisper78 5y ago
    it increases the value of my life and many others. Stay home pretty please, I am sure you will be very successful by switching jobs every few months!
  - seedless-sensat 5y ago
    I cycle into my office every day, 1h round-trip. It certainly increases my quality of life and I'm glad I had the choice (not requirement) to return
    - jjk166 5y ago
      If you didn't have to commute, you'd have an extra hour per day to cycle wherever you wanted instead of having to specifically bike that path. Hell you could still bike that path if that's what you like. In the absolute best case scenario, commuting is breakeven, but realistically you are objectively worse off for it.
      - mint2 5y ago
airstrike 5y ago
Should I get a higher wage for living in a more expensive area in the city? My wage is related to the work I do. How I choose to spend my money is a personal decision.
- refurb 5y ago
  Your wage is related to how much other people are willing to get paid to do the same job.
- jxidjhdhdhdhfhf 5y ago
  Your wage should also be related to how much work you have to put in. I would expect more money if I was going to work 10 hours a day than 8. And I consider commuting time similar to work time. So, given two otherwise equal job offers, one of which requires a 2 hour commute and one which requires no commute, for me the decision is an extremely easy one to prefer the latter. Effectively, the latter is paying me much more per hour of labor.
joelbondurant 5y ago
I'd need a six figure signing bonus to tolerate coworkers who treat everyone like a biohazard.

randallsquared 5y ago

There are people who prefer to work in an office, and some who have that preference even if it puts them on a train for an hour or two a day. As long as we don't get legislation to force employers one way or another, I'd expect employees to self-select into those who like being around others all day, and those who prefer to work in a private office. It's a serendipitous solution we've been presented to all those open plan offices that a certain set hate: you can have your own private office with a view, but you'll pay for it yourself.

tdfx 5y ago
But shouldn't the employees that require extra subsidies (office space, commuting reimbursement, office utilities/supplies) receive the same overall compensation as those working from home with lower expense to the company? It seems to me that if being in the office is an optional preference for some, they should carry the cost of it.
- randallsquared 5y ago
  Yes, that was my poorly-explained point: given that some people prefer to add the cost and time of commuting (possibly in order to rub elbows or attend happy hour), and others prefer to add the cost of a home office (possibly in order to retain focus or make lunch for the family), the costs might turn out similarly, and therefore I hope that remote working doesn't result in systematically lower salaries for those who prefer it.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

actually_a_dog 5y ago

I'll make whichever argument gets me the most money in a salary negotiation.

isbvhodnvemrwvn 5y ago
Which is short sighted if you value your time at all. Spending an hour more a day commuting is directly decreasing the value of your life.
- actually_a_dog 5y ago
  You miss my point, then. If I have to spend that extra hour, I will argue that it needs to be compensated. If I get to WFH, I may argue that I'm paying for dedicated office space at home and that the value of my work is the same here as in the office.
- crisper78 5y ago
  it increases the value of my life and many others. Stay home pretty please, I am sure you will be very successful by switching jobs every few months!
- seedless-sensat 5y ago
  I cycle into my office every day, 1h round-trip. It certainly increases my quality of life and I'm glad I had the choice (not requirement) to return
  - jjk166 5y ago
    If you didn't have to commute, you'd have an extra hour per day to cycle wherever you wanted instead of having to specifically bike that path. Hell you could still bike that path if that's what you like. In the absolute best case scenario, commuting is breakeven, but realistically you are objectively worse off for it.
    - mint2 5y ago

airstrike 5y ago

Should I get a higher wage for living in a more expensive area in the city? My wage is related to the work I do. How I choose to spend my money is a personal decision.

refurb 5y ago
Your wage is related to how much other people are willing to get paid to do the same job.
jxidjhdhdhdhfhf 5y ago
Your wage should also be related to how much work you have to put in. I would expect more money if I was going to work 10 hours a day than 8. And I consider commuting time similar to work time. So, given two otherwise equal job offers, one of which requires a 2 hour commute and one which requires no commute, for me the decision is an extremely easy one to prefer the latter. Effectively, the latter is paying me much more per hour of labor.

joelbondurant 5y ago

I'd need a six figure signing bonus to tolerate coworkers who treat everyone like a biohazard.