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: 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.