Discussing money

[MrsCat 6]

I've just been brought up that it was really tacky. Not sure there's anything that can change my take on it. Only with very close friends and family would I feel comfortable sharing salary info.

That's how I was brought up too.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

Talking with your co workers about your salary is grounds for instant termination at almost every company I have worked for. I have actually have had to let an employee go for doing just that.

It breeds resentment and jealousy in the workplace.

Its not "fair" because people should know what the "going rate" is at the company..but it usually does more harm than good.

So how do you guys know you are not being short-changed by your employer. We all knew what the other earned back in Aus. If someone earned less we used it as a bargaining tool. I wanted all of my colleagues to earn a good salary and vice versa. Then again I was friends with my colleagues. Whereas here we all have the shifty eye on the other. Definitely a different culture.

salray.com is a good place to start but if you have a more specialized or hybrid job its not as cut and dry. Also, pretty much knowing "what you're worth". I would think everyone can safely say they know when they are being underpaid.

I want everyone to earn the same too, if they have the same skills and experience. Alot of it comes down to negotiating. Most companies will have a scale to work with, and dont vary much from it.

[Heracles 417]

To clarify, is this about discussing money in general conversation, or just in the workplace?

Probably both. If it came up we did not have a problem being open. If someone found out they earned less they would either try get a raise or change jobs.

Definitely didn't discuss it in the office.

[Heracles 417]

salray.com is a good place to start but if you have a more specialized or hybrid job its not as cut and dry. Also, pretty much knowing "what you're worth". I would think everyone can safely say they know when they are being underpaid.

I want everyone to earn the same too, if they have the same skills and experience. Alot of it comes down to negotiating. Most companies will have a scale to work with, and dont vary much from it.

Okay I have another question.

Regardless of career, what would you guys think is a decent salary? and at what salary would you say wow that is a good salary?

Edited November 26, 2008 by Aficionado

[MrsCat 6]

salray.com is a good place to start but if you have a more specialized or hybrid job its not as cut and dry. Also, pretty much knowing "what you're worth". I would think everyone can safely say they know when they are being underpaid.

I want everyone to earn the same too, if they have the same skills and experience. Alot of it comes down to negotiating. Most companies will have a scale to work with, and dont vary much from it.

Okay I have another question.

Regardless of career, what would you guys think is a decent salary? and at what salary would you say wow that is a good salary?

All depends on the job I guess.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

salray.com is a good place to start but if you have a more specialized or hybrid job its not as cut and dry. Also, pretty much knowing "what you're worth". I would think everyone can safely say they know when they are being underpaid.

I want everyone to earn the same too, if they have the same skills and experience. Alot of it comes down to negotiating. Most companies will have a scale to work with, and dont vary much from it.

Okay I have another question.

Regardless of career, what would you guys think is a decent salary? and at what salary would you say wow that is a good salary?

Surely that's a question as open-ended as "how long is a piece of string"

THere are good salaries for people just starting out in a creative field which would be different than a good salary for an experienced accountant.

what would be a great salary in a small Southern/midwestern town might be crappy in more expensive parts of the country

[mawilson 2,133]

salray.com is a good place to start but if you have a more specialized or hybrid job its not as cut and dry. Also, pretty much knowing "what you're worth". I would think everyone can safely say they know when they are being underpaid.

I want everyone to earn the same too, if they have the same skills and experience. Alot of it comes down to negotiating. Most companies will have a scale to work with, and dont vary much from it.

Okay I have another question.

Regardless of career, what would you guys think is a decent salary? and at what salary would you say wow that is a good salary?

In NYC, $100k+ is "decent", $150-200k is good, $250k+ is better.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I was watching the nightly news and noticed a story about how discussing money is traditionally a taboo in America. When I thought about it they are right. I know downunder we tend to discuss our pay more openly. I know what all of my friends and family earns; even my coworkers. Whereas here everything is hush hush, especially at work. Knowing what others are getting is probably why people earn so much in Aus. We all know when the other is being ripped off by an employer.

Anyone know why discussing money, especially income, is such a taboo in the US? After all how do you know whether you are earning a good wage compared to others or being short-changed by your employer?

Well, you should have a pretty good idea of what is a reasonable salary for the type of work you do. Finding out how much your coworkers earn and then whining about it to your boss or HR isn't the thing to do.

The idea is that when you're offered a job, you and the employer work out a mutually acceptable compensation scheme. Perhaps so-and-so who earns more than you is simply a better negotiator.

If you're going to use the knowledge that a colleague earns more than you as the foundation of a raise-seeking discussion w/ your boss, you may as well just pull down your pants and take a $#it on the office floor while whistling Dixie.

[Heracles 417]

In NYC, $100k+ is "decent", $150-200k is good, $250k+ is better.

Sounds about right.

DC Area would be:

$60K decent, $90-$130K good, $160+ excellent

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I think almost every where I've worked (present place excepted) there has always been a stupid person who left a spreadsheet with salaries or bonuses on the fax machine or saved on the server - good times when that happens!

[mawilson 2,133]

I think almost every where I've worked (present place excepted) there has always been a stupid person who left a spreadsheet with salaries or bonuses on the fax machine or saved on the server - good times when that happens!

[eros_EX_Plumber 0]

The REAL reason why salary is not discussed int he office in US.....is very simple

BUTZ kisser earn more....$$$$$

unlike other countries where knowledge and experience count...

look at at any company here and you will understand what I am talking about.....

[Heracles 417]

Well, you should have a pretty good idea of what is a reasonable salary for the type of work you do. Finding out how much your coworkers earn and then whining about it to your boss or HR isn't the thing to do.

The idea is that when you're offered a job, you and the employer work out a mutually acceptable compensation scheme. Perhaps so-and-so who earns more than you is simply a better negotiator.

If you're going to use the knowledge that a colleague earns more than you as the foundation of a raise-seeking discussion w/ your boss, you may as well just pull down your pants and take a $#it on the office floor while whistling Dixie.

I found even in the UK discussing your pay is not an issue. I guess for many Britts and Aussies a job is just income. We discuss salaries to better each other and are not too concerned with the company's interest. Over there you go to work, get paid and then go home. The weekend or our next vacation overseas is on our mind. Whereas here some people are seriously married to their career and job title. And for what peanuts, plus two weeks vacation.

I have never heard anyone whine about pay. If you know you are getting short-changed you change jobs. The key is you have to know you are being short changed. I screwed over an employer before when I found out that a person I recommended, who was hired, ended up earning more than me. I just changed jobs and gave them the minimum amount of notice during the busiest time. F##k Em.. When the manager asked me why I did this I told him he should have thought about that before short-changing me. Didn't whine for a second.

Edited November 26, 2008 by Aficionado

[*JG* 2]

I talk about salary with people all the time. Maybe it depends what profession you are in and how high up you are in the company.

[Jenn! 918]

I think it depends on the profession too. When I was in teaching, everyone seemed to know what everyone else made. I guess it's not too hard when the salary scale is public info.