[standardUser]

I have a group of coworkers who've taken the initiate to slyly relocate during the pandemic, in some cases signing leases and buying houses. I think their idea is to either stay fully remote indefinitely or find a different remote job if the company won't abide.

The remote revolution may be overblown in general, but for programmers, the appeal is particularly strong. They've seen the promised land and it turns out it's in a nice home office in Bend OR, not a Bay Area traffic jam.

[psim1]

If by "slyly" you mean without notifying their employers, this could backfire on them in small and big ways. In a small way, it would affect local/state taxes that are withheld. In a big way, employers--whether rightly or wrongly--want to know where the employee lives in order to set a cost-of-living salary. If the employer finds out you're taking a SF salary while living in Bend, there are likely to be consequences.

[sedachv]

> set a cost-of-living salary

This is total nonsense, and you should never put up with this rationalization if HR tries to pull "cost of living" on you. Explain to them that it is called a "labor market" for a reason. Prices in markets are determined by supply and demand; pricing is not driven by cost except as a floor. This is economics 101.

[psim1]

The major tech companies are doing it. Nonsense maybe, but you're not going to win an argument with them. "At-will."

[sedachv]

What argument? It is a salary negotiation. Do you not bother to negotiate your starting salary either?

[jupiter90000]

In addition, some states may penalize the employer for not paying state payroll taxes including state unemployment insurance for the employee. Realistically, this may be difficult for a state to determine but if there is a lease or mortgage involved it could make it more likely.

In any case, as an employee I may not care that much about paying back taxes later or whatever, but I think you're right there could be unintended consequences with this.

[withinboredom]

This is easily handled when filing your taxes. Your employer will never know. Where it might impact things is having out-of-state health insurance and finding a doc that will deal with that. I up and moved to another country (not slyly) and I rather like it; my son speaks fluent Dutch. Look up the Dutch American Friendship Treaty.

[aspaceman]

I think they mean ask for forgiveness instead of permission, as the saying goes.

[cudgy]

Sounds like a great employer ... asking permission to move. What’s next? Provide them with spousal income figures so the employer can adjust your pay accordingly?

[standardUser]

That makes as much sense as basing someone's salary on their zip code, as if living in a less wealthy area make them a less valuable employee.