AdminSecret

I was asked the other day how much money I was going to be making in my new job.  Maybe I am old fashioned, but that is something I always thought was private.  Of course I didn't tell her.  I just said it was worth making the move for.  She then proceeded to tell me how much she earned.  I was so surprised.  Is this a new thing that people talk about their salaries?  What do you think?  Should we tell our co-workers how much we are making?

The woman who asked me is not a close friend or a co-worker, but is someone I see at the gym every now and again and we usually chat about this or that.  I don't even know her name.  It certainly seemed strange to me, but maybe this is something new.

I agree that talking about salary is AS taboo but I still think it should be something private. I told my family and very close friends what I make but other than that I don't tell anyone - especially coworkers. I work with my boyfriend, and I haven't even told him!

But when the topic comes up, sometimes it is easy to deduce what someone makes. For example, I complain that "my rent costs over half of the check I get twice a month." If they know my rent then they can generally calculate my paycheck. 

I have always thought of talking about salary or raises as taboo.  At my last job, one of the several drama queen's that worked there insisted on knowing how much I made and I refused to tell her.  I even quite frankly told her "that's none of your business" and she downright got nasty with me for not telling her.  Well the boss overheard her and she got written up for asking.

People are more open about finances than they used to be, however I am still not in the habit of discussing this topic with strangers for no good reason.  I can understand how talking about how much each person makes can cause trouble at work, but, actually I think companies (like mine) don't allow co-workers to inform each other of the facts so that they can pay people less than they're worth, and possibly also to hide discrimination.  Like was said on another post, secrecy is not a good thing.

My company went from a non-profit to a for-profit business two years ago.

When we were non-profit our salaries were posted for all to see. That was embarrassing, to know I entered the market at a bad time and was paid less than others, yet I worked far harder and longer.

For the last two years we've been for-profit and the salaries are mum. 

To even the playing field, they recently re-level all our positions so they are consistant with the market, reclassing whole groups of people based on their job functions (not how long they've been there).  So now many have room to grow within their pay scale if their job functions are valued. 

The new pay scales have been posted. So if you know someone's class you can do the math and know approximately (within a range) how much they make.

Those making too much for their class, at the top or above their pay scale, are "red lined" and not given any raises regardless of how well they do their job.  They are encouraged to grow professionally and move out of their current class to a higher class.  Our employer will enable them to get more training, support return to school, etc..  If they stay long-term without advancing, they are the first to be considered expendible when there is a reduction in force.

Business is tough.

Don't tell people what you make!  It breeds discontent.  It's none of their business and only leads to unhappiness with what they've got.