Why don't tech companies pay their engineers to stay? (marker.medium.com)

Article summary

The article discusses why tech companies do not pay their engineers to stay, but the article text is not available. The comments suggest that this is due to various factors, including management priorities and salary caps. Some commenters argue that companies should pay long-tenured engineers above market rate, while others disagree. The discussion also touches on the topic of job stickiness and the challenges of switching jobs.

Main themes

• engineer retention
• management priorities
• salary caps
• job stickiness
• side projects
• work visas
• career development

What commenters say

• Some managers prioritize their own career and salary over retaining senior engineers, leading to a lack of investment in experienced staff.
• Allowing employees to earn more than their bosses can be a problem due to ego and social hierarchy, but others argue that this is not a valid reason.
• Job stickiness is a significant factor in preventing engineers from switching jobs, due to factors such as the hassle of interviewing and the risk of landing a worse job.
• Some engineers are willing to stay in a job for reasons other than maximum compensation, such as sane management and enjoyable coworkers.
• Others argue that switching jobs every 2-4 years is necessary to achieve significant salary increases, and that performance-based promotions are not always effective.
• The ability to work on side projects can be limited by employment contracts and company policies, and may not be a viable way to supplement income.
• Some commenters disagree on the extent to which job stickiness is a problem, with some arguing that it is more common among less skilled engineers, while others argue that it affects engineers of all skill levels.
• The discussion also highlights the challenges faced by engineers on work visas, who may face additional barriers to switching jobs due to visa renewal requirements.