Why are we all so weird about pay?

saraboston

I have questions about how much I should be expecting when looking for jobs in different types of health care facilities, but everyone is so uncomfortable talking about pay that I can't get straight answers from anyone. Even where I work now, which is a unionized hospital, people won't discuss it. There's a chart posted in HR of the pay scales--I can go down and see their hourly rate, but no one will ever tell you. I think a lot of places (not just hospitals) would be better off being open about what people are making. Am I the only one who thinks this?

snicksnack

I am not sure what you do but many professional associations do salary surveys which their members can access.  I agree in can be annoying since many places want to know what a candidate makes before even interviewing them and if you make on the low end I feel like it puts you at a disadvantage, 

sunflwra

I'm in HR and I can tell you that it would be a NIGHTMARE if everyone knew what everyone else was making. Depending on how your salaries are banded, some jobs can have a $5-10k pay range and why one person makes one thing and someone else makes something else is based on so many factors but employees can't always see those things. They would just know that the guy that sits next to them doing the same job makes more and in their mind, that would be unfair. It can be a whole ugly can of worms which I'm just fine with keeping shut

shaindelr

I teach in publicly funded higher ed. We just have a chart. X years of experience = X amount of pay. Once you're at the top, you get two longevitity raises. There's no negotiating, no bonuses, etc.

In some ways, it sucks (I'm 35 and two steps from the top because I've been teaching at the college-level for 13 years now), but I don't have to stress about it because it's all laid out until I die...er...retire ;-)

CrazyToast

shaindelr:

I teach in publicly funded higher ed. We just have a chart. X years of experience = X amount of pay. Once you're at the top, you get two longevitity raises. There's no negotiating, no bonuses, etc.

In some ways, it sucks (I'm 35 and two steps from the top because I've been teaching at the college-level for 13 years now), but I don't have to stress about it because it's all laid out until I die...er...retire ;-)

This is basically me.  I teach public school, and so the PUBLIC can look up my salary, generally.  They don't know how many units I have (the top part of the chart) but they can probably guess how many years experience I have.  

But listing a salary does not give the whole picture.  I wish they'd list how horribly high our insurance rates are that we pay out of pocket, and how we're required to be a part of their insurance if we don't belong to a group through our spouse.

Spenjamins

Mine is public. Awkward because peole can get pissy when they realize I make more than they do. Best to keep it on the DL.

June2007

I dont know, I could see a lot of room for drama to start if everyone knew what everyone made where I work. I work at a pre school and was offered certain benefits and starting than some teachers currently or have had. There would be a lot of "he said she said" drama and resentment if my co-teacher(s) knew specifics. Honestly I don't even feel completely comfortable saying this here right now! The reasons I deserved these perks are valid but some people don't care about honest answers and will get bent out of shape anyway.

groovygrl

I have to agree with the others. Having worked in a state funded system where salaries are publicly available & seeing coworkers get all worked out about what other peers make, I don't think it is a good idea. My thought was always more power to you if you were able to negotiate the higher salary & my problem if I couldn't get it but not everything thinks that way, esp if they've worked somewhere for a long time & someone new comes in making a bit more than them for the 'same' job.

Sunidaze

Not a good idea because it's going to do nothing but piss a whole lot of people off.  Someone mentioned the HR aspect, very true.  DH is a public employee (police) and on a few different times, the local paper has taken it upon themselves to publish the salaries of the public employees.  Now really, what good can come of that?

manda26

I really don't want to know what my co-workers make. It keeps us liking each other

Strunella

I understand why people don't talk about it, but like you, I find it really annoying.  It's especially frustrating when you are job hunting and want to make sure you will be getting compensated appropriately.  I actually do know what several of my peers earn, and I make more than they do.  But I also live in a HCOL area and they don't...so I think it is fair.  Their $$ goes a lot farther than mine does.

LeahCK

use glasscieling.com. Ppl post anonymously what they make with their years and skills, education, etc. Some are even company specific. It's annoying but I've learned to 'play the game'.

ashcart01

CrazyToast:

shaindelr:

I teach in publicly funded higher ed. We just have a chart. X years of experience = X amount of pay. Once you're at the top, you get two longevitity raises. There's no negotiating, no bonuses, etc.

In some ways, it sucks (I'm 35 and two steps from the top because I've been teaching at the college-level for 13 years now), but I don't have to stress about it because it's all laid out until I die...er...retire ;-)

This is basically me.  I teach public school, and so the PUBLIC can look up my salary, generally.  They don't know how many units I have (the top part of the chart) but they can probably guess how many years experience I have.  

But listing a salary does not give the whole picture.  I wish they'd list how horribly high our insurance rates are that we pay out of pocket, and how we're required to be a part of their insurance if we don't belong to a group through our spouse.

 

This. Sometimes the kids come to school (usually after it's all posted in the paper) and say things like "Ha ha, my parents make more than you!
 Ridiculous. It's a nightmare.

Pesky

As someone who discovered what a slacker idiot CW made (and yes, it was more than what I did), I can see where not knowing is better.  Plus people view other people's salary differently.  Someone could think "OMG, you are robbed!  How do you live on that?" when you are perfectly comfortable or think "OMG, you are so stinkin' rich!  You can afford this!" not knowing of DC expenses, underwater mortgages and healthcare debt.  It can create a lot of unhappy people if publicly out there in certain fields.

kmh2201

sunflwra:

I'm in HR and I can tell you that it would be a NIGHTMARE if everyone knew what everyone else was making. Depending on how your salaries are banded, some jobs can have a $5-10k pay range and why one person makes one thing and someone else makes something else is based on so many factors but employees can't always see those things. They would just know that the guy that sits next to them doing the same job makes more and in their mind, that would be unfair. It can be a whole ugly can of worms which I'm just fine with keeping shut

This!  I work in HR too, specifically focused on compensation.  Where I work (mostly non-union envrionment), people can know the pay range for the job they are in, and that is it. 

monica92603

I couldn't care less what I make compared to my peers.  I'm very happy w/ the amount I make so the rest doesn't matter. 

That being said, if my team knew what each other made, it could be BAD.  I have people who have worked for me for almost 3 years making X and a new person (older w/ more experience) that I hired X+ 20%.  They are too young to "get" that he should have been hired at more.  They'd just be pissed they weren't making more. 

iluvmylab

I'm a public school teacher.  Anyone can look up what I make on the internet on my district's website.  No secrets here!