<p dir="ltr">I have these conversations all the time with people outside of London.</p>
<p dir="ltr">There's two things I'd say were key</p>
<p dir="ltr">Firstly, money.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Employers aren't willing to stretch for those $200k salaries you hear of in the valley. Perhaps because they don't have the money, perhaps because they're worried its a massive liability. But a good contractor in London can make that wage, and have the flexibility they may desire.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Secondly equity.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In the Valley equity is valued and offered as a key part of the package. <br>
In London it's very rarely offered, and in when it is... it'll 99.9% be worth nothing.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Regarding remote workers.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I think you should pay them more. Maybe double their London rate.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Because...</p>
<p dir="ltr">you only have to put up with their lame jokes on hipchat and not IRL, so overall productivity probably doubles.</p>