To challenge this informal warning at work?

[PaperwhiteTheGhost]

Short version: manager told me today I'll be receiving an informal warning- a letter- from HR for discussing my salary. I want to challenge this as it as 1- it's illegal to prohibit employees from disclosing their salary and 2- I don't think there is an issue with it either.
However, it is an informal warning that doesn't go on my file and my manager is of the opinion that it's inconsequential and not worth bothering to challenge.
What would you do?

More info if required: I am a registered healthcare professional working for a private company but in the public sector. My role is equivalent of NHS band 6.

My salary is pretty average and works out roughly to what I'd be earning at the top of NHS band 6- I am paid a flat rate salary which is comparable to band 6 NHS salary with shift/antisocial hours allowance and London Weighting added. We don't get any extras aside from planned overtime.

I have only ever mentioned my salary in passing when it has come up in context of general conversation.

As far as im aware, there was no complaint about me, rather another employe asked why they weren't paid as much as me which annoyed the head of department who took it to HR.

If it’s informal there isn’t a right to appeal as such.

But it’s totally wrong! I would ask them to show you the policy in which they ban discussion around pay and go from there.

I wouldn’t let it lie personally. What a nonsense.

I'd be discussing this with my union rep.

Although it seems most of MN aren't in a union but I hope you are.

I would absolutely challenge this - they need to show you where in your contract it states you are prohibited from talking about your salary with other people. I have never heard of this as a clause outside of the finance industry. If you are a member of a union get their support too.

You have done nothing wrong and I would ask them to point out the policy that states you have. The only way women get further and get the pay they deserve is by discussing it. We have discussed it at work and managed to get pay rises out of it. The only reason they don’t you want talking about it is because they know there is inequality. Otherwise why would they be worried about it?

They can’t discipline you for this. You can raise a grievance about it. Your union rep should be able to talk you through the process.

Annoyingly as I work for a private company I don't have a union rep. I did when I was NHS.
I think can join the union of the public sector body we provide healthcare to, I might look in to that.

Informal or not, I’d definitely challenge this. I can’t imagine there’s a company policy that prohibits you from discussing your salary.

Eve. If there is some sort of secrecy clause (unlikely), I’d still challenge it as it would be unenforceable.

I used to have one in my last private sector role. Totally unenforceable but they stated it would be seen as gross misconduct to discuss.

I’d be tempted to save your effort.

As long as it’s clear in it that it’s informal, and doesn’t count towards disciplinary proceedings that it’s not worth the effort.

Keep your powder try and pick battles that will have an impact to you. Theyre almost certainly wrong, you’re probably in the right - but if it’s not a step in the disciplinary process then you’re not losing anything.

I think before accepting any warning, however informal, I’d ask to see the policy you’ve supposedly breached.

It is informal, however if there is a repeat of the "concern" within a year it may trigger a formal investigation.

You do t have to be NHS to be in a union……if you join now they couldn’t help with something that’s already occurred anyway

You can join any union you like

Have you ever been told not to discuss salary, that's the deciding factor as to whether you've done anything wrong.
If not, they're being ridiculous. Particularly if they are public sector affiliated where salaries / grades etc are transparent.

Don't accept it.They may come at you with a spurious allegation within the year and it's going to be difficult to defend yourself.

What policy says you can’t discuss salary?

I know, we just don't have one in-house. I can still join Unison or similar but won't have a rep at work.

I didn't think to ask to see the policy. I'll ask to see it tomorrow.

This is nonsense, public sector salaries are a matter of public record, anyone can see them on the afc bandings so even if you hadn't discussed it people could easily look it up.

I’ve had a contract where I couldn’t discuss salary. It would never enter my mind to do so anyway.

If they don’t want people disclosing their salaries then it can only be for a negative reason.

My employer has full pay transparency - we all know what everyone else earns.

Definitely join a union. I use unison as a HCP working in private practice. My local rep was very good at supporting me with a previous employer.

Are you a member of any other professional body as you sometimes automatically get unison membership when you are.

You might want to wait for the letter.

Then you can write back and ask for clarification. Then they're linked. It also means they’ve shown their cards before Youve shown yours.

Just my registering body, they don't include union membership.

This is why I think it's fine to discuss salary. If a colleague is not being paid as they should be, they should be able to challenge that.