To think people should talk about what they earn?

[HoneyBlahBlah]

Recently myself and my colleagues were talking about the hope of wage increases from our company due to inflation. We all agreed that we need to ask for more money, as our wages haven't increased to match inflation.

None of us knew what the others were earning, so I figured I'd just tell them my annual salary. One of the girls who has worked there longer than me (and is therefore more experienced - she helped train me and other colleague) was shocked, as she's on £1k less than me and other colleague. I told her that she needs to discuss this with our Manager, as there's no reason she should earn less.

AIBU to think people need to stop hiding their earnings from others? Surely you're just doing the millionaire business owners a favour by doing so, as nobody knows how much they're worth?

@PegasusReturns, I was just using the point to demonstrate how seriously companies take keeping salaries private.

Sharing details of your salary with your colleagues might be entirely legal, in your view, but if it’s against company policy (as mentioned in my first point) then no, you’re not allowed to discuss it without breaching company rules, resulting in disciplinary action against you…

I agree in principle, but I wouldn't do it at my workplace. A few colleagues at the same level as me were discussing their pay and how they felt it was too low. They just assumed we were on the same wage, but I actually earn several thousand more than them. We are all women and one man, who doesn't get paid more than the others. I did come to the role with a lot of knowledge and experience already, however one of the colleagues paid less than me has done the job for almost a decade compared to my 4 years, so I feel like mentioning my salary would likely just create bad feeling, probably towards me.

I think more openness would be a good thing for lower earners and anybody being discriminated against, as it'll help them see they can push for more. But I think bad for higher earners, as it will breed resentment. When you're on £20,000 and you see someone on £60,000 who doesn't appear to be working harder than you, it's hard to stomach.

But on balance, yes, I think we should be more open.

I only do it on my way out of a job where I'm more open to talk to colleagues about the good and bad of the job, pay rises etc and if they express interest I share salary and hope they do in return. Hopefully it helps them argue for raises if I earn more and it probably validates why I'm leaving if I earn less.

If you're happily staying there for the long haul it causes resentment, dramas and greater staff turnover. This will all negatively affect your working experience - hence I leave it until I'm on my way out.

@Notjustanymum

Sharing details of your salary with your colleagues might be entirely legal, in your view, but if it’s against company policy (as mentioned in my first point) then no, you’re not allowed to discuss it without breaching company rules, resulting in disciplinary action against you

This is not correct.

You cannot contract out of the law.

Your right to discuss your salary is protected under the Equality Act.

A company prohibiting you from or disciplining you for sharing your own salary is almost certainly acting unlawfully.

I used to work as an auditor and there was a man who was paid £14k more than his female boss