Would you share your pay with colleagues? Why or Why not?
In Singapore, discussing our pay or salary information with our colleagues is still considered taboo.
Some of us cite fears of colleagues becoming jealous if we have higher pay, Or being disgruntled when we don’t make as much as our peers do.
Why Is Pay Transparency Such a Taboo?
Although it is perfectly okay to share about your pay legally, the general consensus is that there is a fear of resentment and awkwardness when one shares their salaries.
Although it is perfectly okay to share about your pay legally, the general consensus is that there is a fear of resentment and awkwardness when one shares their salaries.
People believe that by doing so, colleagues may get jealous of them, which leads to strained work relationships.
Others are also afraid that they may seem boastful if they command higher pay.
Others are also afraid that they may seem boastful if they command higher pay.
Not Sharing Salary Information Only Benefits Employers
With salary information only available to your bosses, you’ll be at a disadvantage when it comes to pay negotiations.
With salary information only available to your bosses, you’ll be at a disadvantage when it comes to pay negotiations.
Since you don’t know what the true market rate is like for the role that you’re applying for, it is easy for companies to lowball your pay. On a larger scale, keeping salaries a secret allows companies to keep wages down, which is informational asymmetry.
Although I will not discuss pay with my colleagues, I am quite curious about their pay. What do you think?![]()
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UNeverSleppWell : Knowing how much you are worth is a very useful tool when it comes to your career. And in the case that you are underpaid when compared to your peers, you will then have the necessary information as a backup to ask for a pay raise. It all boils down to knowing your worth in the company and finding out if you are being paid fairly for your contributions.
Nanari : It really depends on your company and culture. Some some companies tend to be more open to share salaries. Some companies tend to be more reserved and employees are quite sensitive to sharing.
Sofu_ : Even i know my colleague salary, there is nothing that can be done. There will be no way you are able to nego a higher pay. You can either stay or quit, to get a rise or not is still depend if you boss like you.
SpellCasting : Different years of experience and different capabilities will have different pay, how can you compare?
Upncoming1841 : I work in the civil service where the salary quantum is transparent and known to all. in the private sector, sharing one's pay is a double edged sword. On the one hand, if another similarly qualified and experienced colleague is getting more than you, you can march to HR to demand an explanation. On the other hand, if you are earning more, your colleague might resent both you and HR. When I was studying in University, one of the associate professors who just joined the faculty compared his salary with his colleague and got so disgruntled that he quit and flew back to his country. He was so unhappy that he rather give up the deposit for his newly secured rental home lease + other inconvenience than to work on what he felt was lesser pay, even though he was perfectly happy with the pay when he was first recruited. I bet his sudden departure means extra work for his colleagues.