Employee compensation generally includes more than just salary- there’s the cost of the employers share of social security, health insurance and any other benefits. If these are included in the figures listed, then the employees salaries are considerably less. If the Singularity Institute isn’t providing health insurance, than buying individual policies is a major expense for the employees. The Bay Area is also one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S.
Alas, folk need to see collaborators, arrange Singularity Summits, interact with donors, board members, and media in the US, Constant travel to and fro would be an imperfect substitute, and flight costs (including time and jet lag) would claw back the cost-of-living gains and more.
The rule of thumb I’ve heard is that an employee’s cost to their employer is between two and three times their salary. Even if the employer is not paying benefits, they still have to carry worker’s comp insurance, for example, as well as administrative overhead on managing payroll, etc.
Employee compensation generally includes more than just salary- there’s the cost of the employers share of social security, health insurance and any other benefits. If these are included in the figures listed, then the employees salaries are considerably less. If the Singularity Institute isn’t providing health insurance, than buying individual policies is a major expense for the employees. The Bay Area is also one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S.
If donation money is used to buy worktime (which is good and well), why not move to Thailand and save the world from there? :-)
Sounds great from a weather perspective :)
Alas, folk need to see collaborators, arrange Singularity Summits, interact with donors, board members, and media in the US, Constant travel to and fro would be an imperfect substitute, and flight costs (including time and jet lag) would claw back the cost-of-living gains and more.
My suggestion wasn’t completely serious, but thanks for the answer anyway!
I’m given to understand this is why the Visiting Fellows program is being temporarily moved to Bali.
Last I heard, this is not actually the case.
The rule of thumb I’ve heard is that an employee’s cost to their employer is between two and three times their salary. Even if the employer is not paying benefits, they still have to carry worker’s comp insurance, for example, as well as administrative overhead on managing payroll, etc.