This right here is the way to deal with the problem. Lowering a salary should only happen if someone is a fuckup or reduces the amount of work they have to do. Doing it over time like this is super classy.
I don't know, if the same job gets paid less in Austin then it's not really fair for someone who transfers from SF to Austin to make more than someone who was just in Austin all long. If someone moved from Austin to SF you'd just pay them less than a new hire in SF?
At Google they just openly adjust your salary if you move between cities; move from NYC to Atlanta and you'll take a bit hit, move back for the reciprocal instant raise.
