Can You Be Fired For Asking About Pay?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can I Be Fired for Discussing My Wages? No.

It is illegal for employers to fire workers for talking about one’s salary or wages

at work. Your employer cannot retaliate against you, threaten to discharge, demote, suspend, or discriminate against you for exercising your right to equal wages.

Is it illegal to ask employees to not discuss pay?

The Act prohibits employers from forbidding employees from discussing their wages or the wages of other employees. … Pay secrecy policies, whether formal or informal, often reflect an effort by an employer to conceal wage discrimination.

Can employers keep you from talking about pay?

In fact, employees’

right to discuss their salary is protected by law

. While employers may restrict workers from discussing their salary in front of customers or during work, they cannot prohibit employees from talking about pay on their own time.

Can employees discuss their pay?

In fact, employees’

right to discuss their salary is protected by law

. While employers may restrict workers from discussing their salary in front of customers or during work, they cannot prohibit employees from talking about pay on their own time.

Why salary is confidential?

The biggest reason for maintaining salaries confidential is

to mask the pay differences between those performing the same job

. … Pay differences also arise between employees who are hired from the market compared to those who have grown to a position from within the organization.

Can HR disclose your salary?

In the United States, employers are not prohibited from double-checking job applicants’ quoted salary figures. … Unless they’ve been issued a subpoena,

U.S.-based employers are under no legal obligation to disclose any information about current or former employees

.

Is it legal to tell coworkers your salary?

The Act prohibits employers from forbidding employees from discussing their wages or the wages of other employees. … Pay secrecy policies, whether formal or informal, often reflect an effort by an employer to conceal wage discrimination.

Is my salary confidential?

Under the NLRA, even an employee who signs a non-disclosure agreement still has the legal right to discuss pay with coworkers and others. … Employers legally may not discipline or terminate employees for discussing their pay at work.

Is it OK to share your salary with coworkers?

You cannot forbid employees – either verbally or in written policy – from discussing salaries or other job conditions among themselves.

Discussing salary at work is protected

regardless of whether employees are talking to each other in person or through social media.

Why do jobs not show how much they pay?

In today’s market, companies also don’t want to advertise

their compensation packages because it makes them more vulnerable to their competition

. Competing organizations could use salary information to win over candidates by offering them more money or target high-performing senior staffers within that organization.

Can someone be paid more for doing the same job?

What laws prohibit pay/compensation discrimination? … Specifically the EPA provides that

employers may not pay unequal wages

to men and women who perform jobs that require substantially equal skill, effort and responsibility, and that are performed under similar working conditions within the same establishment.

Can I lie about my salary in interview?

Muse Career Coach, Theresa Merrill, advises people to be

honest

about their current or past salary. Misrepresenting anything about your work history in an interview or on an application is “unethical,” and therefore unadvisable. … Neves says to let them know that you’re knowledgeable on the salary range of the position.

Why does HR ask for salary history?

Your salary history — specifically the salary you earned in your most recent position — is one factor an employer can

use to gauge your level of experience and the value you’ll bring as an employee

. They want to ensure your expectations are aligned with their budget for the role.

What can HR ask previous employer?

An HR representative can ask

what position the candidate held

and can usually get a salary confirmation. The previous employer may not answer other helpful questions, such as “Did the employee work well with others?” and “Did she meet her deadlines?” because of the fear of liability.

What bosses should not say to employees?

  • “You Must do What I Say because I Pay you” …
  • “You Should Work Better” …
  • “It’s Your Problem” …
  • “I Don’t Care What You Think” …
  • “You Should Spend More Time at Work” …
  • “You’re Doing Okay” …
  • 7. ”You’re lucky to have a job”

Is it rude to ask a coworker how much they make?

Yes, it’s O.K. — and perfectly legal — to talk about it. What many workers don’t realize is that

it is unlawful for private sector employers to prohibit employees from discussing wages and compensation

, and it has been since the National Labor Relations Act was passed in 1935.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.