By Jacquelyn Smith, Forbes.com
Special to Online Career Tips
Why is everyone so hush-hush about how much they make?
Well, many employees think discussing wages in the workplace is taboo; sometimes it’s against company policy. But mostly it makes people uncomfortable.
According to a new global poll by jobs site Monster.com, more than half of surveyed employees around the world are not comfortable discussing what they earn with their colleagues. Only 25% of U.S. respondents are comfortable sharing salary information with a co-worker, compared to 43% of European respondents.
Why does it make them feel so uneasy?
“Money is a polarizing topic,” says Ryan Kahn, a career coach, founder of The Hired Group, star of MTV’s Hired, and author of Hired! The Guide for the Recent Grad. “Discrepancies in pay are common as a number of factors are typically considered, like experience, seniority, and education. In pursuing conversations on salary with a co-worker, the odds are you will find that you’re receiving different levels of compensation, which can result in tension or resentment in your relationship.”
Andy Teach, author of From Graduation to Corporation, and host of the YouTube channel FromGradToCorp, agrees. He says workers get uncomfortable discussing salary because it’s such a personal matter. “If you’re in a position where you are discussing salary with co-workers, you may be putting yourself at risk,” he says. “You may not want your co-workers to know what you’re making because this knowledge may upset them if they feel that you’re making too much or that they are making too little. You risk upsetting your supervisors because you may be putting them in a difficult position. Most people don’t like discussing their financial matters in general because it’s usually a private matter and no one else’s business, but at work, you’re kind of forced to discuss it if you want to maximize your earnings potential. They say that money is the root of all evil so perhaps discussing money at work makes us feel both guilty and uncomfortable.”
Mary Ellen Slayter, a Monster careers expert, says while most of us are curious to know what our co-workers earn, gossiping about pay with colleagues usually isn’t the best way to get reliable information. “It can really affect morale and teamwork – not to mention, it very well may go against company policy,” she says. “The best way of knowing your worth is to keep a toe dipped in the market. By monitoring new jobs in your industry you’ll know whether you’re paid fairly and get an idea of the areas you might need to work on to secure a higher salary.”
Even though it’s considered taboo, and many are uncomfortable discussing salary—it still happens all the time.
“Knowledge is power,” Teach says. “Employees want to be in a great negotiating position when their review comes up or when they’re up for a promotion, and salary is discussed.”
Kahn agrees. “Discussions of salary certainly still happen–but I typically see that with more junior workers confiding in a close friend or person with an equivalent job title who hasn’t fully thought through the consequences.”
Should a co-worker ask about your salary, here’s how to navigate the tricky topic.
1. Be honest about your comfort level. “If the topic is being brought up by a co-worker, you should be honest with them about how much information you’re comfortable in sharing,” Kahn says. “Assume everything you tell a co-worker could potentially be relayed back to your boss; think about what you would want them to know you’ve told others.”
If you’re not comfortable sharing your exact salary, consider giving them a range, Teach adds.
2. Recommend online tools. It turns out there’s a way to get out of those awkward conversations. If someone asks you about pay (and you’re not comfortable sharing), let them know that there are several resources where he or she can see how their pay compares to others. The Monster team says Monster’s Salary Wizard, for example, can give you a general idea of where you stand. “In addition, most trade associations conduct salary surveys, which tend to go into greater detail for specific occupations.”
3. Ask for discretion. “If a co-worker asks you what your salary is, and they’ve already shared their salary with you, [you may want to] reciprocate by telling them your exact salary, and ask them to keep your conversation confidential,” Teach says.
4. Don’t break the rules. Career experts at Monster say although it’s just frowned upon to discuss pay in some workplaces, in others it’s actually strictly against company policy. “Make sure you know what is and isn’t allowed by your organization and don’t risk your position by gossiping needlessly.”
5. Always know your value. If you know how your salary compares to others in your field, you’ll be less tempted to ask co-workers–and you might be more comfortable having this discussion with those who initiate it.
Monster career experts say the best way to know your value is to keep a toe in the market, even if you aren’t looking for another job. “You’ll get an idea of which skills are valued, what other employers are offering and where your company stands.”
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