Is It OK To Lie About Your Current Salary?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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.

Are you allowed to tell your salary?

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.

Do employers check your previous salary?

1. Can employers ask about my salary history when applying for a job?

Employers in California cannot ask job applicants about their salary history

. If an applicant asks, employers have to provide a salary range for the position.

What happens if you lie about how much you earn?

Many good employers are aware that paying a competitive salary helps them retain top talent in their industries. Lying about how much money you earn is

a different story

, however. Potential employers are more likely to see you as unethical or unprofessional and may pass you over as a candidate.

Can you lie about your current salary?

Can an applicant get in trouble for lying about their current salary? ‘

While it is unlikely to happen

, an applicant lying about anything could land them in trouble if the lie is discovered,’ explains Helen. ‘It goes to the heart of the fundamental relationship of trust between employer and employee.

Should you put your current salary on a job application?

Not all employers will ask candidates to share their salary history and, depending on the employment laws in your state, you may not encounter the question at all. If an employer doesn’t ask you for this information, there’s no need to include it with your application or during any other phase of the hiring process.

Should you inflate your current salary?

Even so, it’s a widely accepted truth of the industry that

many people inflate their salaries when applying

for jobs. … Lying about your salary in order to achieve more money from a new employer can backfire.

Can you ask salary history?

Employers

can

‘t

ask

for

salary history

. An employer

can

confirm

salary if

the applicant gives a pay

history to

support a higher

salary

when a job is offered. Employers

can

‘t

ask

about previous pay or benefits.

If they

already have that information,

they

‘re

can

‘t use it

to

set pay.

Does a background check show salary?

Employment history checks help to validate information provided by candidates about their previous work experience. This may include verifying the organisation where they worked, their job title, seniority and salary, period of employment, accomplishments and any evidence of misconduct or disciplinary action.

Why you should not disclose your salary?

The problems that arise from disclosing how much you earn are many. First, people who know your income begin to associate you with your earnings, as if you are the money you earn. … Second,

people will begin to make money decisions for you

. You will be expected to pay for stuff you never intended to pay for.

Why salary is confidential?

But why make salaries confidential? That’s because

people would never be satisfied with what they’re receiving no

matter how the organization tries to maintain an objective salary scale galvanized by an annual industry survey.

Can I be fired for discussing my salary?

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 tell someone how much you 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.

Can you lie about a job offer?

Lying about other job offers

When you don’t actually have a job offer,

don’t lie about it

. You may be caught in the lie, or worse, the company you really want the job with decides to go for someone else, leaving you without options.

What should I put for current salary on job application?

  • Leave the field blank.
  • Put a zero or type “No” in the field.
  • Type in “N/A” (for not appropriate or not applicable).
  • Type a sequence of numbers like 123456 or 11111.
  • Put your target or real salary number in the field.

What should I put for expected salary?

When answering desired salary or expected salary questions on an application, the best approach is to write

in “negotiable” or keep the field blank

. If a numerical response is required, enter “000” and in a notes section, mention that salary is negotiable based on further understanding of the position.

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.