‘Was shocked how much less…’: Viral post on H-1B salary says it’s not just a scam
A post on X went viral as it revealed how H-1B visa program is not just a scam happening with US workers but also an exploration of foreign workers who would do anything to stay in the US. H1-B visa programs allow US companies to hire skilled employees from foreign countries and it has remained a contentious issue as the US job market is shrinking though companies are not reducing H-1B hiring. The person in the viral post claimed that he had an H-1B peer from India, who was a nice and competent person who was getting burnt out under the work pressure at the US company where they were working. But the person did not have any other option unless he finds another visa sponsor. “I used to work for a company where I had an H1B peer. Nice enough guy, pretty competent. He was getting burnt out and lamenting how he couldn’t leave unless he found a new visa sponsor. Eventually he confided in me his salary because he was unhappy with a raise he got…” the post read. “I was making about 40% more than he was. We had the same title/level. I negotiated pretty hard when I had joined but was shocked how much less they got away with paying him. And he had no options. Unless he found another sponsor, it was back to India,” the post added. “It’s not just a scam for cheaper labor, but labor that is desperate to stay in your good graces at a lower wage lest they get sent home. So they’ll work longer hours for less money because they don’t want to go back. At least illegals are free to job hop under the table,” it said. “Whatever the immigration/guest worker policy is, it has to not let employers get away with paying them less than natives. If it’s just a race to the bottom for wages, it’s bad for everyone (except the company),” the post concluded.
