Β #RemoteWork #HybridRoles #CostOfLiving #Recruiting #JobSeekers
ποΈ Have you noticed the trend of companies in super expensive cities hiring for “hybrid” roles that only require 1 day in the office? π€
It’s puzzling why companies are pushing for employees to live near these high-cost areas when they only need to come in sporadically. Here are some thoughts and possible solutions to consider:
– Is there a way for companies to be more flexible with remote work policies, especially if the job can be done effectively from home?
– Tech has shown us that remote work is possible, so why not take advantage of it fully?
– If someone is able to perform their duties remotely 4 days a week, why not consider making it a full-time remote position? It saves money for both the company and the employee, allowing for a better work-life balance.
What do you think? Are there other solutions you’ve considered or implemented in the past? Share your thoughts and experiences below! π
To tell people to quit without doing an official layoff.
Remote work is easily the best thing a company could do to get me to work for $100k cheaper. Shareholders don’t want to hear about that though, they just want to see that you’re making your products shittier, increasing the price, and sending jobs to India (even if there are places in the US that are several times cheaper than NYC/Silicon Valley…)
The weirdest part is it’s not just a Fortune 500 thing. For some reason shady startups think I’m going to pick up my life and move across the country for them lmao
It’s incredibly frustrating. I also keep finding job postings that say remote and then say onsite when you actually get into the application. I’m not going to sell my house and move just to take a risk on a job that might not work out. It’s insane.
Some of it will definitely just be getting people to quit to reduce headcount, yes.
But I will defend it a bit and say there are valid reasons for wanting you to come in, even just 1 day per week. For example, if everyone has to come in on the same day, then you have the ability to have all your weekly meetings face-to-face by scheduling them for that day. It can also help with socialization, getting the team members to know each other better. It’s a lot easier to connect with someone when you’re speaking to them face-to-face than just talking to them over Slack or even on Zoom. Yes, I know, half of you are immediately thinking, “But I don’t want to socialize with my coworkers or get to know them better” – well too bad, you aren’t a self-employed freelancer, that’s part of being part of a corporate team. It might also be to help out more junior members of the team, who are maybe in-office more frequently than your position (pretty common for junior roles to be 100% on-site atm). Making more senior people come in sometimes gives them someone to ask and learn from in-person, instead of being the only people in the office and they have to get mentorship over Slack/Zoom 100% of the time.
Also most people do want to live in/near these cities so it’s probably not as big of an issue for most people as it is to you.
Send those recruiters my way
I wouldnβt mind a day in the office if it meant I can avoid the email and message dodgers. Or I should say be able to confront them.
1. Collaboration and communication: In-person meetings and collaboration can be more effective and efficient than virtual meetings. Being in the same physical space can also facilitate spontaneous interactions and brainstorming sessions.
2. Building culture and relationships: In-person interactions can help build relationships and a sense of community among team members. This can be especially important for new employees who are just joining the company.
3. Training and development: In-person training and development programs can be more effective than virtual programs. Being in the same physical space can also allow for more hands-on learning and coaching.
4. Security and compliance: Some industries have strict security and compliance requirements that may be more easily met with in-person oversight.
5. Client and customer interactions: Some jobs require in-person interactions with clients or customers.
That being said, it is becoming increasingly common for companies to offer flexible work arrangements, such as remote work or flexible schedules, to accommodate the needs and preferences of their employees. This can be a win-win for both the company and the employee, as it can save money on office space and commuting costs, and can also improve work-life balance and job satisfaction.
It’s important for companies to consider the specific needs and requirements of each job when deciding whether to allow remote work or require in-person attendance. It’s also important for employees to communicate their needs and preferences with their employers and to be open to finding solutions that work for both parties.
They do it to make sure you aren’t working 2 jobs.
Aside from the things that were already mentioned, tax incentives / local job credits?
The companies have proximity to pay rules that mean you need to effectively live nearby, or at least simulate it.
You know nobody is “forcing” you to take these jobs, right?
Companies are trying to find any excuse to utilize their long term lease agreements so itβs not a complete waste of an expense. Companies usually save money by signing 10+ year leases and that looks bad to investors to see their money not being utilized well. That also means companies are in a difficult position to try and appease their workers with remote work (mostly driven from the pandemic) and appease investors by not burning money on under utilized real estate.
A lot of my colleagues in NY who have to work one day in the office and four days remotely live upstate and fly or drive to the city for the day in the office. A flight ticket from Buffalo to NYC costs 200 bucks a week.