Discussions about pay rates at work illegal?

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AntMan530

Senior member
Dec 22, 2000
769
0
0
So I found out that I'm making less than everyone in my company! We all started at the same time, and we all are do the same thing. I actually do more at times believe or not.

Anyways, we talked about pay rates when we were not suppose to, and I am not happy at all. :( I dont know if I should ask for a raise....it could get me fired....

PS:

I havent signed the contract yet...But I have recieved a few checks and have worked a few hours with the knowledge of this pay rate. You think I can negotiate this rate still?
 

Kindly ask for a raise the usual way, and don't mention you know anything about others pay rates.
 
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HN

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2001
8,186
4
0
Originally posted by: AntMan530
So I found out that I'm making less than everyone in my company! We all started at the same time, and we all are do the same thing. I actually do more at times believe or not.

Anyways, we talked about pay rates when we were not suppose to, and I am not happy at all. :( I dont know if I should ask for a raise....it could get me fired....
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this is why you're not supposed to discuss it
like fight club
 
Y

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
18,010
1
81
it's really bad for morale for people to discuss their pay. especially when you find out you're getting ripped off!
 
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deftron

Lifer
Nov 17, 2000
10,868
1
0
Traditionally, the janitor doesn't make as much as everyone else in the office..


Sorry, dude






 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Once you learn NEVER to talk about salaries with co-workers, you'll be much happier. I learned this quick and now I stop anyone even they are trying to volunteer their salary to me. It's not important. Seriously. If you don't feel you make enough, ask for a raise. Don't compare yourselves to others. You don't know their stories. Maybe, and no offense here, you suck at negotiating and/or have less experience?
 
Kadarin

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
81
Most companies require that you do not discuss pay with other employees. This is for good reason.
 
A

aplefka

Lifer
Feb 29, 2004
12,014
2
0
Yeah, just be happy you don't make like 15% less than you thought you were going to and none of your bosses give a damn. We all get screwed though, so discussing it isn't so much a problem as them just being stingy bastards.
 
S

sonz70

Banned
Apr 19, 2005
3,693
1
0
Its a lesson everyone learns...don't ask other people's wages, it will just make you depressed.
 
A

AntMan530

Senior member
Dec 22, 2000
769
0
0
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Once you learn NEVER to talk about salaries with co-workers, you'll be much happier. I learned this quick and now I stop anyone even they are trying to volunteer their salary to me. It's not important. Seriously. If you don't feel you make enough, ask for a raise. Don't compare yourselves to others. You don't know their stories. Maybe, and no offense here, you suck at negotiating and/or have less experience?
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Yeah...I dont have much experience negotiating. I just finished school, so I really dont know whats too much and whats fair...I never even negotiated..my agent was suppose to do that for me....anyways...Knowing what others make is good...now I can go somewhere else and get more and what I'm worth...hopefully
 
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Sureshot324

Diamond Member
Feb 4, 2003
3,370
0
71
I think the main reason for that rule is so you don't go to your boss and demand a raise because person x is doing the same job and making more than you. I don't think discussing wages with coworkers is a big deal.
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
i bet to differ, I am not looking but if someone is willing to tell me what they make I will factor that into my negotiations.

Most of the time I am paid more, but if I can find a few slackers that tell me they got massive bumps and their rate...I will just tell them, damn I can't compete with that and store it for times like these:

I am sorry I tried but 4% is what the best is right now...I got it for you, I didn't get 4% this year even. That's not important, I understand, but I need some time off next week. 11-12 on Monday for a dental appt, 2-5 on tuesday for my annual. On Wednesday, I have to pick my wife up at 3pm. Thursday is ok, but Friday I won't be in due to a personal matter. I need to let you know next Friday, but I think my next week will be busy with somethings I have been meaning to take care of.

wait, what, wait....I can get you more moneywhat? more money? I just need to take care of things, but thanks..what are we talking?

If they ramble...state the facts..they went for you all the way yet know can guarantee you more????
 
Y

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
18,010
1
81
Originally posted by: alkemyst
i bet to differ, I am not looking but if someone is willing to tell me what they make I will factor that into my negotiations.

Most of the time I am paid more, but if I can find a few slackers that tell me they got massive bumps and their rate...I will just tell them, damn I can't compete with that and store it for times like these:

I am sorry I tried but 4% is what the best is right now...I got it for you, I didn't get 4% this year even. That's not important, I understand, but I need some time off next week. 11-12 on Monday for a dental appt, 2-5 on tuesday for my annual. On Wednesday, I have to pick my wife up at 3pm. Thursday is ok, but Friday I won't be in due to a personal matter. I need to let you know next Friday, but I think my next week will be busy with somethings I have been meaning to take care of.

wait, what, wait....I can get you more moneywhat? more money? I just need to take care of things, but thanks..what are we talking?

If they ramble...state the facts..they went for you all the way yet know can guarantee you more????
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that was totally fvcking unintelligible.
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: Yossarian
Originally posted by: alkemyst
i bet to differ, I am not looking but if someone is willing to tell me what they make I will factor that into my negotiations.

Most of the time I am paid more, but if I can find a few slackers that tell me they got massive bumps and their rate...I will just tell them, damn I can't compete with that and store it for times like these:

I am sorry I tried but 4% is what the best is right now...I got it for you, I didn't get 4% this year even. That's not important, I understand, but I need some time off next week. 11-12 on Monday for a dental appt, 2-5 on tuesday for my annual. On Wednesday, I have to pick my wife up at 3pm. Thursday is ok, but Friday I won't be in due to a personal matter. I need to let you know next Friday, but I think my next week will be busy with somethings I have been meaning to take care of.

wait, what, wait....I can get you more moneywhat? more money? I just need to take care of things, but thanks..what are we talking?

If they ramble...state the facts..they went for you all the way yet know can guarantee you more????
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that was totally fvcking unintelligible.
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basically once you know what other's make, you are at an advantage.

If you know the 'company average' raise is less than what you heard with the masses, you are at an advantage.

If your boss ever gives you the bottom line, then says they can definitely do better once you complain, they are raping you.



 
GeekDrew

GeekDrew

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
9,099
19
81
Originally posted by: Astaroth33
Most companies require that you do not discuss pay with other employees. This is for good reason.
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Most companies ought to be sued. :D

From a thread that's not even a month old yet... here.

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Originally posted by: GeekDrew
You do realize that it is illegal to be fired for discussing your salary, right? If they fire you for that, take them to court, and you WILL win.

(I am not a lawyer.)
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Good thing, because you are dead wrong.
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No, I'm not.

I am not a lawyer, but I've spoken with a handful of paralegals and attorneys about it, and they've all said that it is illegal to terminate based on discussion of salary. I've previously discussed this in this forum, in a thread about someone being fired for just that. Important information quoted below; link to original thread.

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Originally posted by: Nik
Originally posted by: ctcsoft

coworker of mine got fired for discussing his wage with another employee.

is this fair/legal?
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There's no law that says you can't be fired for discussing your wages. That leaves it up to companies to put clauses in their employee handbook and other HR documentation to handle it. Some companies specify that discussing wages is against company policy and punishable by termination.
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WRONG you are.

I happened to be researching nursing homes tonight, and discovered that there are federal laws that prevent termination on the basis of discussing wages. I happen to have a very good friend in Chicago that is a paralegal, and whose brother is a lawyer... I gave them a shout, and they both confirmed that most employers do not know that the law is on the books, and many attorneys are making a lot of money from settlements regarding terminations over wage discussions. :D

I suggest that if you still believe that you are prohibited from discussing your wages, please contact an attorney ASAP, that is well versed in employee and employer rights.

Here happen to be three links to the same case:

National Labor Relations Board,
Petitioner/Cross-Respondent,
v.
Main Street Terrace Care Center,
Respondent/Cross-Petitioner.

http://www.nlrb.gov/nlrb/shared_files/decisions/327/327-101.htm
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/g...se.pl?court=6th&navby=case&no=00a0218p
http://accounting.smartpros.com/x27337.xml

I'm assured by my legal friends that there is plenty of other case law out there that will assist employees that have been wrongly fired for the reason that they were discussing their pay with another employee or with anyone else.

Hope that someone finds this useful.
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I suggest you check out the three links, above.

I do not have more information than that available at the second, though I am assured by folks that know much more than I do that I am correct.
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E

eelw

Lifer
Dec 4, 1999
10,353
5,502
136
Yeah, happen to me when I was doing my co-op job. Worked in the ISO dept. while others in the ISM dept were getting like 15% lower and almost 30% more than students in accounting and other business dept. And then the contractors for the help desk got wind how much the students got in the ISO dept. They went and complained back to their company that we were making more. All they got was a lecture that salaries are not to be discussed with anyone else.
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: eelw
Yeah, happen to me when I was doing my co-op job. Worked in the ISO dept. while others in the ISM dept were getting like 15% lower and almost 30% more than students in accounting and other business dept. And then the contractors for the help desk got wind how much the students got in the ISO dept. They went and complained back to their company that we were making more. All they got was a lecture that salaries are not to be discussed with anyone else.
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lemmings.
 
T

themroc27

Senior member
Sep 10, 2005
230
0
0
Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
It's proper etiquite(sp?) to NEVER DISCUSS PAY RATES with co-workers.

Now you know why.
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it's not "etiquette", it's actually just a way for MANAGMENT to limit the free exchange of information among workers, making it easier for management to screw WORKERS over by paying them less than they are worth (and less than others are getting for exactly the same job).
 
T

themroc27

Senior member
Sep 10, 2005
230
0
0
Originally posted by: Astaroth33
Most companies require that you do not discuss pay with other employees. This is for good reason.
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yes, and the good reason is that when workers have less access to information like pay rates across the company, then those workers are at a disadvantage when they are negotiating their individual contracts. this allows management to pay the minimum amount they can get away with,
 
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