Facebook’s New Remote Salary Policy is “Barbaric”
Why Facebook should pay remote employees more, not less
In a recent town hall meeting, Mark Zuckerberg shared Facebook’s lessons and strategy for transitioning to remote work in the coronavirus era. But although he spoke of creating a “thoughtful and responsible” work-from-home culture, the company’s new salary policy is hardly altruistic.
According to Zuckerberg, Facebook employees who move out of the Bay Area during the pandemic will face a cost-of-living salary adjustment. Those who don’t update their locations by January 1, 2021 risk “severe ramifications.”
But setting employees’ salaries based on where they live rather than their experience or output is illogical. According to David Heinemeier Hannson, Basecamp co-founder and co-author of the book Remote — Office Not Required, it’s also “barbaric.”
As a remote work consultant, I have strong opinions on why Facebook’s new policy is wrong. And I have two alternatives for what to do instead.
