On: Amazon Plans to Split HQ2 in Two Locations: NY and VA

[klaudius]

Why don't they try remote work? Virtual HQ2? It would be cheaper and give them access to better talent.

[mabbo → klaudius]

Because lots of types of work that aren't development don't fit well with the remote team model. And HQ2- just like HQ1 and plenty of other Amazon offices- won't be just developers.

When I worked in the Seattle office, the floor below me was some kind of fashion department. I don't know what specifically they did, but the ones I met weren't writing code. In the Toronto office today, there's an entire floor that are AWS Sales Evangelists (or something like that). Business teams like that can't always work in a purely remote environment.

[symplee → klaudius]

Who's going to subsidize that?

[nemo44x → symplee]

Vermont is starting a program where they will pay you to move there and work for an out of state company remotely.

To the companies benefit you can pay employees substantively less outside major cities.

[symplee → nemo44x]

Do you need to have the remote job first? If so, the remote salary would probably have already been calibrated. Still interesting though.

[nemo44x → symplee]

I’m not sure. I think they have a set number of grants and you have to come as a new Vermont resident. First come first serve.

I think the idea is to attract folks from major Eastern cities that lust for the country side. It is a gorgeous state....but winter.

[eljimmy → symplee]

Why would you need to subsidize remote workers?

[symplee → eljimmy]

Exactly.

[sixstringtheory → symplee]

Could they consider the money they save on new office space and feeding and pampering the employees as the subsidization?