3 Good Reasons to Talk to Your Colleagues About Salary

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It’s your ticket to a fairer and more equitable workplace.

Key Point

• The right to discuss pay with colleagues is protected by the National Labor Relations Act of 1935.
• Discussing salaries can help close the gender pay gap that still leaves women (especially women of color) paid less than their male colleagues.
• Pay transparency improves relationships with colleagues and increases job satisfaction.

There are often silent norms enforced by employers regarding salaries. Companies may discourage wage negotiations among employees because they say it creates displeasure and resentment among employees if they don’t ban it outright. The benefits for employers of making these rules are that they can save money by making some staff members pay less than others doing the same job, and that they You can avoid headaches by leaving them ignorant. Regardless of the employer’s perspective, the right to share payroll information may be protected under national labor relations laws. The law is broad and intended to cover as many employees as possible. The National Labor Board can check whether your company falls under the legal category and budget.

The NLRA was passed in 1935 with the aim of fully protecting workers’ freedom of association. This means that employees have the right to seek better working conditions and participate in collective bargaining without fear of reprisal by their employer. With this in mind, here are his three ways you can make your work life better by discussing salary with your colleagues.

1. Salaries could be fairer

When it comes to pay, if you’re a woman, you might already be at a disadvantage. The gender pay gap has gradually improved since 1960, when the average woman earned her $0.60 for the average man’s $1 salary. As of 2020, that figure averaged $0.83 for all women. Much work remains to be done to fully close this gap. You can move the process forward by discussing salaries with your colleagues. If you’re a woman and find that some of your male colleagues are earning more than you (with similar experience and qualifications), it might be worth digging further and discussing it with your manager. The pay inequality is even more pronounced for women of color. According to the Labor Department, a black woman’s salary is only 64% of what a white man makes, while a Hispanic woman makes 57% of her. If you learn that there is significant gender or race inequality in your workplace, it can be a red flag worth discussing with an employment attorney.

Even if the pay gap in the workplace is irrelevant to gender or race, it is good for all employees if it is normalized. After all, knowing that your colleagues with more experience and training than you are naturally making more money, it gives you something to strive for in advancing your career. .

2. Improve relationships with co-workers

This may sound counterintuitive, but discussing salary with your co-workers can improve your working relationship. It takes a lot of trust to discuss money and compensation with people you’re dating at work. After all, some people are not comfortable discussing salary with friends and family. But pay transparency can also create a workplace where colleagues advocate for each other, encourage skills training, and work together for the common good.

3. May increase job satisfaction

I won’t go into detail, but when an employer takes an arbitrary approach to salaries rather than standardized and transparent salaries, it indicates a random approach to other aspects of the business. It’s possible. It’s not a measure of success. Additionally, employees are happier and more productive when they feel they are being paid fairly, and have the courage to face more challenges and negotiate for higher pay as they advance in their careers. have the ability

With these reasons, you may feel a little more confident discussing salary with a trusted colleague. Employers cannot legally forbid this, but they can say that they are not allowed to discuss wages during working hours. Some non-disclosure agreements prohibit discussing salaries with people outside the company. So keep these things in mind as you work towards a happier and fairer workplace. Not to mention putting more money into your savings account to meet your financial goals.