In a recent press release, Zapier, a workflow automation tool company, has announced that they are now offering a “delocation” package to incoming employees living in the San Francisco area.
Many companies have offered a relocation package to move new employees to the city that meets business needs, but Zapier has taken a new twist on it by letting the employee choose the city that best meets their needs and wants.
New Zapier employees from San Francisco can choose where they want to relocate to and be reimbursed... [+]
“Zapier started as a side project, so the co-founders worked remotely as we had to capitalize on free time whenever we had it,” said Wade Foster, Co-Founder and CEO of Zapier. “When we first started hiring, we simply hired the best people in our networks – which happened to be outside of Silicon Valley because we’re originally from the Midwest – and the remote aspect continued.”
“Five years later, Zapier has 80+ employees, all remote, across 13 countries and 22 states,” said Foster. “We have always been a 100% remote company and have no intention to establish a centralized headquarters. We found a business model that works for us and incentivizes the best talent to live and work anywhere in the world.”
With the foundation for successful remote work set firmly, Zapier recognized that some talent in Silicon Valley had a desire to live elsewhere and still pursue their career goals.
“Many of us feel we have to make a career sacrifice,” said Foster. “You have to go from the land of opportunity for your tech career to a city with a more limited set of options for your own personal growth.”
Currently, their “delocation” package only applies to applicants in the San Francisco area that are looking to move elsewhere. The benefit includes up to $10,000 reimbursed for moving expenses incurred during the first three months of work. Employees using the package must remain with the company for at least a year.
Zapier has embraced remote work since their beginning, making it easy for new employees to choose where they would prefer to live. In a sense, it’s a dream company for many millennials who love to travel or try out new places.
“The $10,000 ‘delocation’ allowance is certainly a draw for candidates,” said Foster. “Millennials often relocate to major cities and business centers to build careers for themselves, but the package gives talented people the opportunity to work with a leading tech company from wherever they want, even if that’s outside of Silicon Valley. We want to encourage employees to do their best work under their ideal personal circumstances – being closer to family, in cities with a lower cost of living, or locations that align with their desired lifestyle.”
The announcement has been well received. There is a desire for this ability to choose your lifestyle and location.
“We received 150+ applications over the weekend after announcing the package last Friday,” shared Foster. “That’s 30% more than usual, and 50+ of those referenced the delocation package in their application. That momentum has carried through the rest of this week for various open positions, including 500+ applications in two days for an HR admin position.”
Zapier is starting this program with applicants from Silicon Valley, but will consider expanding it later depending upon how this program goes.
What are you waiting for? Live where you want to live. Zapier is hiring.
