Your boss is watching you 👀

Hey there! Exciting announcement: We’re hosting live workshops nationwide to help you figure out your market rate! 💰 Here’s where you can catch us:

• Washington, DC (our hometown!) October 3 from 6-8 PM ET

• Austin on October 24 (Time TBD)

• Denver on October 26 (Time TBD)

Not only will you get cool freebies, but you’ll also leave knowing what your market rate is, how to find it, and steps to negotiate what you're worth. Space is limited so be sure to RSVP and save your seat today!

 1   Companies are spying on their employees 👁

Why do you feel like someone’s watching you? Well, if you’re working remotely, that’s because your boss probably is. 96% of remote companies use employee monitoring software, per a ResumeBuilder survey. The trend shows no signs of slowing down: 85% of leaders now doubt their employee’s productivity since the shift to hybrid work.

But ask a company why they’re surveilling employees, and it’ll be “largely under the guise of ensuring workplace safety, confidentiality and protecting the business,” says Kathryn Weaver, a partner at Seyfarth, to CNBC.

So, how are certain companies going about watching their employees? (Warning ⚠️: It’s pretty off-putting).

But a company acting like Big Brother has consequences. Apart from eroding trust between employees and employers, a 2021 study found that people purposefully worked at a slower pace when being monitored (and stole more office equipment than their un-monitored peers…the more you know. 🤷‍♀️)

FYI: While there isn’t federal legislation protecting employees from undisclosed employer surveillance, there’s a growing movement against it. There are certain states (shout-out to New York and California) that are introducing bills to safeguard workers.

 2   “Boss Privilege”: Why you’re in the office (but your boss isn’t) 🏢

48% of higher-ranking employees WFH four days a week, while only 33% of those in entry-level positions do, per a McKinsey report. In other words, higher-status workers have WFH arrangements, while those with less power aren’t given the same flexibility. 🤨

“Boss Privilege” isn’t new. In September, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff required employees to RTO three days a week—but won’t return himself, as his “personality just doesn’t work well in an office.”

Rules for thee, not for me. The boss privilege phenomenon highlights the need for a more equitable approach. The benefits of WFH should be accessible to all—not just those with top positions.

 3   Amazon bumps hourly pay for holiday workers 📈

“Happy Holidays” — From, Amazon. The e-commerce giant is hiring for 250,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal roles in anticipation of the holidays, according to CNBC.

That’s cool, but…what’s the pay? Amazon claims it invested $1.3 billion toward additional pay, offering delivery and warehouse employees an average of $20.50 per hour (up from $19/hour). Plus, Amazon is offering sign-on bonuses ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 in specific locations.

While it’s a step in the right direction, increased pay doesn’t erase Amazon’s troubled past. Last January, The Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations against three Amazon warehouses for exposing workers to safety hazards. Hopefully, this holiday season presents better working conditions—not just better wages.

“A $300K salary is the ‘new $100K’.”

That’s what this study has to say about some of America’s largest cities, including New York, Honolulu, and San Francisco. 🌁 In fact, San Francisco is the third-most expensive city in the US, with a cost-of-living that’s 94% higher than the national average.

Let’s take a closer look at how much some things cost in SF: 🔍

• 🏡 One-bedroom apartment: $2,995 

• 🚗 Monthly parking spots: $350

• 🥗 Monthly grocery costs: $359 

So, how much are the people of San Francisco earning to afford living in the city? We hit the streets of SF to find out, interviewing everyone from a social worker earning a $40K salary to a truck company owner netting $320K. Give it a watch!

• Want to become an entrepreneur? Here's a free 6-step guide to finding million-dollar business ideas.

• This 28-year-old quit her “dream job” in fashion and got a $40K raise when she pivoted to tech.

• Speaking of pivoting, Pivot by Jenny Blake is a great read if you’re thinking of making a career change. 📚

• We recently chatted with CNBC on all things self-advocacy, success, and of course, salary. 💚

• Can you lose a job offer by negotiating salary? We unpack this question, along with the dos and don’ts of negotiation right here.

Thanks for reading! A quick shout-out to Ford CEO Jim Farley, who suggested UAW (United Auto Workers) were “greedy” for wanting to get paid more than teachers, firefighters, and military. Want to know how much Jim made last year?

$23 million. 🙄 

If you’d like to support the UAW, here’s a list of things you can do.

See you next week!