Do you know how much your coworkers earn? It’s easy to assume that everyone in a similar role takes home about the same amount of money. But can you be sure about that? You won’t know unless you ask.
Some believe discussing wages is against company policy, but it’s illegal for employers to prohibit these conversations. Talking about pay with your coworkers can lead to greater transparency and help identify pay disparities, which is a big reason companies often try to stop these discussions and a big reason employees should keep having them. Let’s look at some other reasons why it’s a good idea to discuss your salary with your colleagues.
Uncover Pay Gaps
Not all employers are transparent about compensation. Some might pay certain employees more or less than others for discriminatory reasons and try to sweep it under the rug. If your company lacks transparency, it’s up to you to start the conversation. You could discover that you’re paid unfairly compared to your peers.
Promote Equity
Pay transparency is a major legal issue—if companies get caught with discriminatory pay practices, they can face fines or other penalties. Discussing your salary helps hold companies accountable and pushes them toward fairer compensation structures for everyone.
Negotiate Better Salaries
When you know what your colleagues earn, you gain leverage. This information equips you to negotiate your salary more effectively, either in your current role or when you seek a new one. Without this context, you operate in the dark, which can cost you thousands over your career.
Strengthen Workplace Relationships
Talking about money can feel awkward, but it can also build trust. When you and your colleagues are open about compensation, you create a culture of support. This shared knowledge fosters stronger bonds and shows that you’re all in it together, looking out for one another’s professional and financial well-being.
How to Start the Conversation
It might feel strange to bring up salary. You can ease into it. Start by asking a trusted colleague if they’d be comfortable sharing their salary range. Explain that you want to be sure you’re both compensated fairly. Frame the discussion around mutual benefit rather than pure curiosity.
Don’t hesitate to talk about pay with your coworkers. Companies that are transparent about their compensation structures will have no problem with this. Those that take issue with it might be hiding something—like pay discrimination or inequity—that you would never discover without asking a colleague, “Hey, what’s your salary?”
- Have you ever discussed your salary with a coworker? How did it go?
- What fears or hesitations do you have about discussing pay?
- Do you believe your company is transparent about its pay structure?
- How would you feel if you discovered a coworker in the same role earned more than you?
- What steps could your workplace take to promote greater pay transparency?
