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There's been some recent speculation about the effects working from home will have on various parts of the economy, particularly the commercial real estate market. If companies can figure out how to keep employees productive, coupled with the desire for some to relocate to more rural areas (and consequently, farther away from the office), it's possible some companies may reconsider continuing to carry all the overhead associated with having an office.
Which leads to the question: should remote workers accept a pay cut for working remotely?
A recent survey of 600 U.S. adults found 66 percent willing to take a pay cut for the flexibility of working remotely.
To what degree varied, however.
- Fourteen percent would take a one to four percent cut;
- Twenty-nine percent would take a five-to-14 percent cut;
- Seventeen percent would take a 15-to-24 percent cut;
- Seven percent would take a 25 percent or more cut;
- Thirty-four percent would not take a lower salary for flexible remote work.
The survey, taken from July 5 through 7 from Fast, a start-up specializing in online checkout, found COVID-19 safety concerns part of the current appeal of remote working. Thirty-nine percent were less comfortable returning to their physical office compared to 30 days before. However, 65 percent preferred a workplace that gives employees the flexibility to choose where and when they work remotely.
[...] The concept of "localized compensation" or paying someone less for the same work because of where they live is being hotly debated in human resources circles. In May, Facebook drew some backlash after announcing that employees choosing to permanently work remotely will receive salary cuts if they move to less expensive areas.
Originally spotted on The Eponymous Pickle.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 27 2020, @02:30PM (1 child)
There have been a lot of good comments around the transfer of costs from employer to employee, as well as macro assessments of value of work performed regardless of location. Those are all good for this debate.
What's missing is the legal aspect. Liability. Workers Comp. And those associated things. If I trip and fall at work, workers comp. If I trip and fall at home, while working at home, what happens? If I drink too much at work (that keg in the corner, or a company event celebrating a product release, etc.) and hit someone on the drive home, the company is liable. If I do that while working (say on a Zoom celebration of same said product launch where everyone is drinking), now what? There are many such situations that have not been explored.
Companies pay for more than just real estate, power and network. They pay insurance for liability. With no one coming into the office, they can reduce both. Or can they?
Someone said working from home is similar to a gig economy job (Uber, I think it was). There are aspects that are very similar. Aspects we have not explored, personally, or legally.
So, would I take a pay cut to work from home permanently - in my same location, or in a less expensive location (lower cost of living). No. Especially not until the legal aspects are worked out in court or via legislation. Only then will it become clear where the true costs are.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 28 2020, @03:03AM
Interesting issue you raise. If the injury was clearly work related (e.g. you spent 8+ hours a day at your computer and got carpal tunnel) then you'd be in the same situation as if you were doing it in the office, and you'd probably be covered.
If you fall down the stairs (and I do know someone with a white collar job who fell down the stairs at work and was badly injured) then unless you can show it was work related you're probably out of luck. For example, you were on a conference call, somebody needed you to fetch a document from another room in your house, and you fell while doing that, you're probably covered. If you just fall down the stairs on your way from your bedroom to your home office, then, probably no dice.
But you're unlikely to be covered by workman's comp if you're in a car accident while commuting, and excluding RSI type injuries which are probably still covered, white collar workers are probably more likely to be injured on the commute than on the job. So, probably a net win for the employee, still.