Should You Accept a Pay Cut to Work Remotely?
As companies begin to bring workers back into the workplace, many employees have their hearts set on staying remote instead. Companies like Twitter and Spotify are giving the power to their employees to choose the work environment that is best for them rather than forcing workers to come back to the office. While other companies like Google and Facebook will allow some workers to continue working remotely but will adjust their salary based on the location they choose to work. The basics of this deal are that any employee that decides to move from where the office is located to a local suburb or somewhere else entirely can face a pay cut of 15-25%. This brings about the question, should you accept a pay cut to keep working remotely? Many Americans say yes and would give up a lot more for the opportunity to continue working from home, but is it worth the slash? Although the answer isn’t cut and dry, here are some of the benefits and pitfalls of remote work.
Benefits of Working Remotely
The choice of working remote comes with a heap of benefits for most people. Many enjoy having extra time to spend with their kids while still working on their careers. While others like to do their laundry at any point in the day.
Employers may worry that at-home employees will waste time at home, but they actually tend to be more productive than their in-office counterparts. By taking charge of their schedules, remote employees can work at their own pace and find systems throughout their day that allow them to get more work done. Being in an office with disruptive co-workers and eagle-eyed managers just isn't a productive setting for many people.
Employees that work from home also save tons of money as opposed to working in an office. The elimination of long commutes not only decreases stress but also cuts all commuting costs. They also save money on pricey business attire. Unexpected food runs with co-workers quickly add up throughout the week too. Working from home gives employees power over their lives they may not have had before. Saving money and having time to complete everyday tasks leads to more stress-free and productive employees.
The Benefit of Remote Workers for Employers
With empty offices, employers can begin to eliminate the high costs of these spaces. Even if employers decide to allow employees to work on a hybrid schedule, they can downsize their office spaces and save money in the long run. Working remotely does not decrease the productivity of workers either. Most remote workers put in more hours than their counterparts in the office.
The absence of a commute and working around many other people decreases the chances of getting sick too. By staying healthy, remote workers are willing to give up their sick days and add more hours to their schedules.
Workers Are Willing to Take Cuts
Whether or not employers want their workers to stay home, employees want the freedom to make that choice. Workers have already had to completely switch their lifestyles to work from home throughout the pandemic. The quick shift to Zoom meetings and Slack chats proved that most people can work from home without sacrificing their quality of work.
A recent survey showed that 65% of Americans were willing to take a pay cut to continue working from home. Individuals surveyed were even willing to give up or trade their health benefits in exchange for the opportunity. 53% of workers would also take on 10 extra hours of work every week from their home office.
Should You Accept a Pay Cut?
The answer isn’t so simple. On one hand, most remote workers will give up whatever they have to to have the flexibility to work from home. While on the other hand, throughout the pandemic employees have been doing the same amount of work from home that they would've done in offices. Companies still have the funds to keep paying employees their regular salaries too. Businesses are using the reduced cost of living for remote workers to justify pay cuts. But it feels unnecessary when employees are doing the same jobs they would be doing in the offices.
In some ways, remote workers that have their salaries cut for moving could still end up on top. If they move to a place with a low cost of living and their cut salary is still above the average earnings in that area, they come out with more funds in the end. Taking a pay cut to live the remote work lifestyle may be the reality for many. But to have the freedom of choosing that lifestyle could be worth it.
You could easily find yourself freely traveling and working from anywhere in a mobile workspace like a Nest Van if you get tired of working from the home office. Working in your own mobile Nest Van legitimizes the work you do while still allowing you to have the out-of-office freedom you crave. Pay-cut or not, working remotely is an incredible opportunity to travel and work from anywhere. So is it worth the cut? We'll let you decide.
