Who do you share your salary information with?

beren · 01-22-2008, 10:36 PM

Do you share your salary information with your family, friends or coworkers?

Most employers encourage employees to keep their salary information secret. This is suppose to cut down on jealousy and bickering in the workplace.

But in reality, I think that's just "The Man" trying to keep us down. If we all shared our salary information with each other, we would be in a much stronger bargaining position against the employer.

Megan · 01-23-2008, 04:03 AM

I'm a government employee, so if someone knows my grade, they can very easily figure out my salary. It's just kind of a given in this environment. I can't say that it's a good or a bad thing.

I do admit, I feel a bit weird when I go out to lunch with a group of co-workers, knowing that we all make the same amount of money and some of us are single with no kids and some of us are trying to raise a family on that salary. Moments like that make me re-think some of my spending. They seem to be able to do a lot more with their money than I do.

Julie Rains · 01-23-2008, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beren

Most employers encourage employees to keep their salary information secret. This is suppose to cut down on jealousy and bickering in the workplace.

But in reality, I think that's just "The Man" trying to keep us down. If we all shared our salary information with each other, we would be in a much stronger bargaining position against the employer.

I agree with both statements: it's good to prevent bickering and employers want to hold salaries down.

I knew someone who worked in payroll accounting and got upset when a new hire made more money than she did; on the one hand, the salary difference was inequitable but on the other hand, she didn't see the potential value that the new person brought. She quit her job but took a position that paid less just because she was angry.

Sites like PayScale - Salary Survey, Salaries, Wages, Compensation Information and Analysisand Salary.com Job salaries- Performance reviews- Compensation softwareare handy to see what market rates are without feeling threatened or angered by other's salaries.

Gootsy · 01-23-2008, 06:34 AM

I shared my information with my mom and her husband, my sister, and a couple friends. Not exact, but roughly. Also kinda regret it since, although I asked them to keep it to themselves, I suspect they've told several people.

I haven't told my dad, because he lives far away and I know he wants me to come visit soon. If he were to know how much I'm making, it might make him angry heh.

rstlne · 01-23-2008, 07:34 AM

I haven't shared that information with anyone other than the IRS. However, I don't think it's so relevant any more. A significant part of my income is not from my job.

kav122 · 01-23-2008, 08:10 AM

I share with my mom and husband and that's it. I don't want to know. I am in grad school to be a nurse practitioner and work at a hospital doing IT work until I graduate. Not what I would want for a career, but some people in my department are. I figured that I made the least, since the other people have been here MANY more years than me and our company gives a raise every year. However, one time a comment was made about some "poor person probably working a job where they make $XX/hour". And that $XX was MORE THAN I MAKE PER HOUR. That pissed me off that 1. I am obviously making a GREAT amount smaller than the rest of my department. 2. That a remark would even be made like that. 3. That I feel like I work harder than some/most of the others in my department and they are making more than me.

I have to admit, it did make me wonder what exactly the others are making.

KYLydia · 01-23-2008, 09:42 AM

I can understand the business's rationale. I also sort of have the feeling that what I don't know can't hurt me. I know whether my salary is equitable for my market, field, and position. I don't need additional paycheck-envy directed toward my coworkers.

farley2k · 01-23-2008, 10:30 AM

I am a city employee so once a year my salary is listed in the local paper along with everyone else's so I am don't have much reason to keep it from anyone else.

gtwise · 01-23-2008, 11:45 AM

I generally don't care who knows how much I make, I'm more concerned with finding out what other people at my work make and how it would affect me. I don't tell anyone at work about my salary but I don't mind if my friends or family know about my finances. I'm also not shy about telling people (even at work) that my wife makes more than me, the joint account doesn't care where the money comes from, it spends the same

.

alex · 01-23-2008, 08:36 PM

I used to share it with some coworkers, when we were trying to get raises. And my father used to ask me.

And Greg. He's always asking.

01-22-2008, 10:36 PM	#1
beren Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 53 Reputation: (17)	Who do you share your salary information with? Do you share your salary information with your family, friends or coworkers? Most employers encourage employees to keep their salary information secret. This is suppose to cut down on jealousy and bickering in the workplace. But in reality, I think that's just "The Man" trying to keep us down. If we all shared our salary information with each other, we would be in a much stronger bargaining position against the employer.

01-23-2008, 04:03 AM	#2
Megan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 303 Reputation: (59)	I'm a government employee, so if someone knows my grade, they can very easily figure out my salary. It's just kind of a given in this environment. I can't say that it's a good or a bad thing. I do admit, I feel a bit weird when I go out to lunch with a group of co-workers, knowing that we all make the same amount of money and some of us are single with no kids and some of us are trying to raise a family on that salary. Moments like that make me re-think some of my spending. They seem to be able to do a lot more with their money than I do. __________________ Counting My Pennies

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01-23-2008, 06:34 AM	#4
Gootsy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 236 Reputation: (19)	I shared my information with my mom and her husband, my sister, and a couple friends. Not exact, but roughly. Also kinda regret it since, although I asked them to keep it to themselves, I suspect they've told several people. I haven't told my dad, because he lives far away and I know he wants me to come visit soon. If he were to know how much I'm making, it might make him angry heh.

01-23-2008, 07:34 AM	#5
rstlne Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 361 Reputation: (115)	I haven't shared that information with anyone other than the IRS. However, I don't think it's so relevant any more. A significant part of my income is not from my job.

01-23-2008, 08:10 AM	#6
kav122 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 434 Reputation: (181)	I share with my mom and husband and that's it. I don't want to know. I am in grad school to be a nurse practitioner and work at a hospital doing IT work until I graduate. Not what I would want for a career, but some people in my department are. I figured that I made the least, since the other people have been here MANY more years than me and our company gives a raise every year. However, one time a comment was made about some "poor person probably working a job where they make $XX/hour". And that $XX was MORE THAN I MAKE PER HOUR. That pissed me off that 1. I am obviously making a GREAT amount smaller than the rest of my department. 2. That a remark would even be made like that. 3. That I feel like I work harder than some/most of the others in my department and they are making more than me. I have to admit, it did make me wonder what exactly the others are making.

01-23-2008, 09:42 AM	#7
KYLydia Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1 Reputation: (10)	I can understand the business's rationale. I also sort of have the feeling that what I don't know can't hurt me. I know whether my salary is equitable for my market, field, and position. I don't need additional paycheck-envy directed toward my coworkers.

01-23-2008, 10:30 AM	#8
farley2k Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 43 Reputation: (14)	I am a city employee so once a year my salary is listed in the local paper along with everyone else's so I am don't have much reason to keep it from anyone else.

01-23-2008, 11:45 AM	#9
gtwise Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 45 Reputation: (14)	I generally don't care who knows how much I make, I'm more concerned with finding out what other people at my work make and how it would affect me. I don't tell anyone at work about my salary but I don't mind if my friends or family know about my finances. I'm also not shy about telling people (even at work) that my wife makes more than me, the joint account doesn't care where the money comes from, it spends the same .

01-23-2008, 08:36 PM	#10
alex Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wilson's basement Posts: 100 Reputation: (59)	I used to share it with some coworkers, when we were trying to get raises. And my father used to ask me. And Greg. He's always asking.