undefined | Better HN

0 pointsnerpderp826mo ago0 comments

It definitely suppresses TECH worker pay and decreases mobility. For the H1B they become indentured servants often working 60+ hrs a week.

H1B holders are paid less for the same job, keeping wages down.

0 comments

laurencerowe6mo ago

While the permanent residence process is clearly broken for people from India and China, I don't think it's accurate to characterise H1B workers as indentured servants. The paperwork for changing jobs on an H1B is fairly easy and is not subject to the H1B lottery.

Cap-exempt H1B holders working for universities are restricted to switching only to other cap-exempt employers, but even then I never felt I had to work 60+ hours a week.

nerpderp82OP6mo ago

I am specifically talking about tech, I personally knew many H1B folks that worked insane hours literally so that they were seen as ultra productive and wouldn't get cut.

laurencerowe6mo ago

That sounds like a really unhealthy workplace. Fortunately that was not my experience working in tech on a visa.

Tadpole91816mo ago

You would need to get another job, unlike a citizen. It need not be said how that's a significant barrier to resisting your employer, no?

_DeadFred_6mo ago

Another job willing to do the paperwork, willing to sponsor, that has access to an immigration lawyer. It's not just 'finding a job' it's finding a job at a company willing/able to do all that. It's definitely a much higher bar.

1 more reply

rramadass6mo ago

No.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45306919

nerpderp82OP6mo ago

> In 2021, the median wage of an H-1B worker was $108,000, compared to $45,760 for U.S. workers in general.

This compares medians across to huge populations. I have seen many H1Bs making less and working more.

rramadass6mo ago

It is the distribution that matters at a wage level cluster defined by DOL. There are four (i.e. entry, qualified, experienced, and fully competent) and those are higher than the medians.

See also Understanding H-1B Minimum Salary Requirements for Eligibility - https://day1cpt.org/news/understanding-h-1b-minimum-salary-r...

t-36mo ago

Both can be true. H-1B's earn less than their domestic peers, but far more than the domestic underclass they are brought in to keep down.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

laurencerowe6mo ago

Cap-exempt H1B holders working for universities are restricted to switching only to other cap-exempt employers, but even then I never felt I had to work 60+ hours a week.

nerpderp82OP6mo ago

I am specifically talking about tech, I personally knew many H1B folks that worked insane hours literally so that they were seen as ultra productive and wouldn't get cut.

laurencerowe6mo ago

That sounds like a really unhealthy workplace. Fortunately that was not my experience working in tech on a visa.

Tadpole91816mo ago

You would need to get another job, unlike a citizen. It need not be said how that's a significant barrier to resisting your employer, no?

_DeadFred_6mo ago

1 more reply

rramadass6mo ago

No.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45306919

nerpderp82OP6mo ago

> In 2021, the median wage of an H-1B worker was $108,000, compared to $45,760 for U.S. workers in general.

This compares medians across to huge populations. I have seen many H1Bs making less and working more.

rramadass6mo ago

It is the distribution that matters at a wage level cluster defined by DOL. There are four (i.e. entry, qualified, experienced, and fully competent) and those are higher than the medians.

See also Understanding H-1B Minimum Salary Requirements for Eligibility - https://day1cpt.org/news/understanding-h-1b-minimum-salary-r...

t-36mo ago

Both can be true. H-1B's earn less than their domestic peers, but far more than the domestic underclass they are brought in to keep down.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse