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> European labor laws are a major factor. It's much harder to fire people and a company like Amazon loves to fire people. Not sure why I keep reading this over

> European labor laws are a major factor. It's much harder to fire people and a company like Amazon loves to fire people. Not sure why I keep reading this over and over. Yes, it can take up to 6 months to fire somebody here in Europe (usually 1-3 months though). The 6 months is usually for >15 years of uninterrupted work with the same company. Justifying that "the company cannot easily fire because of labor laws" is just plain wrong. If the 250k+$ jobs I'm constantly reading about are actually true, it's double the average that I've ever heard about for any type of Senior SW Devs in most competitive / innovative centers in the EU. 350k$ more so. Stocks are not even part of the TC. In most EU countries, SW Devs make about 50-60k€ as juniors. To reiterate, the math doesn't add up, so the argument must be talent, not laws.

ehaughee 5y ago
Speaking only for my own org's stated goals, they try to hire within the same timezone or close-by. So South America, for a west coast team, would theoretically work but Europe would be a tougher sell. Amazon also hasn't historically done a lot of remote work (as far as I've seen anyway) so, pre-COVID, an office would likely need to exist in a given area.
Hakashiro 5y ago
I'm also pissed off when I see HN people seeing 200k or 300k salaries as "too low". Jesus, Americans are millionaires, what the hell?! I'll tell you the reason: they do this because they can. It's not talent, it's competition. Who in EU is going to give you even 80k as a junior? Nobody. So why bother offering 300k or even 150k when people will take the tole for 60 or 70k? Inb4 "but housing is more affordable!" Whatever. That's not related to the employer. It's simply racist. "You earn less because you're European" is the truth. It's not because cost of living is lower (although it's related) but it's just a matter of employers being able to get away with shitty pay.
- mihaigalos 5y ago
  Yes, most likely. Would that not imply the following?: - most people will constantly change jobs in search of better pay. - foreign (especially US) companies have incentives to hire more in Brazil/EU.
rybosworld 5y ago
"Not sure why I keep reading this over and over." Because it is true.
- mihaigalos 5y ago
  Citation needed.

ehaughee 5y ago

Speaking only for my own org's stated goals, they try to hire within the same timezone or close-by. So South America, for a west coast team, would theoretically work but Europe would be a tougher sell. Amazon also hasn't historically done a lot of remote work (as far as I've seen anyway) so, pre-COVID, an office would likely need to exist in a given area.

Hakashiro 5y ago

I'm also pissed off when I see HN people seeing 200k or 300k salaries as "too low". Jesus, Americans are millionaires, what the hell?! I'll tell you the reason: they do this because they can. It's not talent, it's competition. Who in EU is going to give you even 80k as a junior? Nobody. So why bother offering 300k or even 150k when people will take the tole for 60 or 70k? Inb4 "but housing is more affordable!" Whatever. That's not related to the employer. It's simply racist. "You earn less because you're European" is the truth. It's not because cost of living is lower (although it's related) but it's just a matter of employers being able to get away with shitty pay.

mihaigalos 5y ago
Yes, most likely. Would that not imply the following?: - most people will constantly change jobs in search of better pay. - foreign (especially US) companies have incentives to hire more in Brazil/EU.

rybosworld 5y ago

"Not sure why I keep reading this over and over." Because it is true.

mihaigalos 5y ago
Citation needed.