To think we are considerably richer than yaw

[ChedderGorgeous]

Mumsnet is rife with people either asking how people make so much money (and obviously ignored family duties in doing so), or others outraged that people might be envious of them as 'higher earners'. I think it's because it's very British not to ask about money irl, when a forum allows such anonymous questions it turns into a mudpit of arguments. Perhaps if we were more open like Americans, there wouldn't be underlying resentment?

So you thought you'd start a thread about exactly that 🤣

To get to the bottom of it !

Perhaps if we were more open like Americans, there wouldn't be underlying resentment?

I don’t think we want to be like the Americans, life seems precarious over there.

I never discuss salary levels in real life. Only my DH knows what I earn.

The more I stay on MN the more I think some people come on here just to be resentful and nit pick about anything! Most threads get at least one snarky comment which is often irrelevant and, when that is pointed out, they then insist that it is completely relevant and the core issue "actually" (as they obviously know better than the OP!).

Yes exactly. And I'll assume it's because you earn so little.

Nah, we're fine. Thanks for your concern though.

It's not polite to talk about money in the US either. I work for the government so my salary is public knowledge but most people are not comfortable discussing their salaries.

Thank you for your service.

I’m very open about what I earn. I think it’s important, particularly for women, who often end up underpaid because they don’t ask for promotions or pay rises. If you’ve no reference point for what your peers earn and just assume that it must be similar to you, it makes it harder to fight for what you’re really worth.

I don’t get the embarrassment over talking about income. It doesn’t say anything about you on a values basis, it’s quite literally just the contract you’ve made with your employer.

Wow!

Wowsers. Truly rich people don’t about their wealth because they don’t need to.

This.

I really agree. You'll have someone working for years not realising a male colleague is on more for no reason. If we were more open (including companies/ departments) then there could be better equality and probably higher wages

What do you mean by ‘more like Americans?

Having lived & worked in the US and with several close US friends, I have to say, they don’t discuss money much either. They are far more careful about raising personal topics like health & wealth, and less careless about offending.
If you mean, we should be more interested in the person than their class background, I would say , absolutely, but beyond that, I am not sure they are so different.

I worked in France where everyone was very open about salary. When I questioned it my colleagues asked how I would know if I was being paid fairly if I didn't talk about it. It was a lightbulb moment and I've switched my attitude to "I'll tell anyone and if I'm being underpaid, it's my employer who should be embarrassed, not me". Didn't go down so well when I first moved back to England (managers were annoyed I told people salary) but I find attitudes are slowly changing

It's not what you've got, it's what you do with it.

I agree about being open. I find it's helpful for more honest and meaningful conversations, and to understand the world better. I wouldn't if I thought it would make others uncomfortable, but in general I am happy to share details of my salary with friends or family - in work my pay range is available on the intranet so not a secret. Maybe I'd feel differently if I had a very high salary, I don't know.
My quite young kids know how much I earn.

A ridiculous assumption.

My very point.

I don't either, I'm not sure how it would come up in conversation unless to say i couldn't do something because of lack funds. Your assertion that people don't talk about earnings as they earn so little (define little) is very flawed.

What I find annoying about my work, is that line management is often done by peers and they get to see what you earn...and then people realise that line management is not worth the extra, so invariably they resign from doing it, but that means that most of my permanent colleagues all know what I earn, but I have no idea what they earn, seems unfair to me.

No it's not your "very point" - however it's a moot point as anyone could say anything on here and they may be making it up or not. I could say i earn £90k (as that is what i earn) and you can simply say no you don't, you don't talk about it in real life so that means you must earn 2 shillings and sixpence.

Is this a TAAT?

Oh dear. You've got yourself into a pickle in this argument! 😂

Nothing specific. Perhaps a thread about lots of threads and the general attitude to money in UK