Why’s It So Taboo to Talk About Compensation?
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How is it that when we can readily see public sector and professional athletes salaries on the web and not bat an eye at it. I’m sure they discuss these things over caviar all the time and it isn’t that big of a deal; but why does middle class America think it is so taboo to discuss it? I admit it, I never ask friends and family what they make. If they make it readily available for me, I’ll certainly listen, but I have never asked about it. Is it a status thing?
It seems even more ridiculous when you can find and know the price of everything with the advent of the internet. I can find out prices of cars, prices of houses, prices of groceries, tax information, and daycare prices if I really want to online. We have a pretty good idea of how much someone is worth by these things, but still feel it is some top secret information to readily discuss the last piece of that puzzle.
Do I disclose my salary on this site? No. But could you find it out if you wanted to? Totally, but I still find myself reluctant, even through anonymity to release that piece of information.
I think it may fall in the way we were raised and the environment we grew up in. I think a big reason may be that some of us are always trying to “keep up with the Joneses” and don’t want to give in that those said Joneses really are kicking our butts in the income category.
I think another big piece of it MAY be the fact that the athletes, public officials, and some celebrities salaries are posted (including the fact that Paris Hilton gets paid MILLIONS to attend parties). We realize that we’re up against some pretty big $$$ and that our measly salaries are nothing compared to those apples…
But why the mindset in the first place? I never knew what my parents made growing up. Eating hotdogs and macaroni and cheese 4 times a week though gave me a pretty good indication; but they never actually let on anything. I’d suspect that my dad (mom stayed home to take care of us) brought in no more than 20k through the 80′s and left in the 90s and I’d bet when my mom went back to work she was barely pulling in 10-12k in her first few years, nearly to 25k now, but I never knew.
Does the lower class discuss salaries openly? In tight knit families I bet they do. If you’re all working to pay for the roof over your head, I’m sure it is readily available information at the dinner table. Heck, it would have to be.
I’m not rich, nor am I poor, but I can’t tell you the salary of any of my family members, nor do I feel I should ask. Yes, I am certainly interested; but not enough to pry and ask. I would actually probably feel pretty uncomfortable about it. I remember growing up when you’re in your teens, people older than you always asked me though, assuming that I made minimum wage, I’d be happy to pipe up that I was making WELL above the minimum wage of $4.75 and that I was paid very well at $5.15. 
So how about worldwide though – Is it just an American thing? Like I said earlier, I’m even confining it to American middle-class right now – prove me wrong if you can, I’m happy to listen. Half Sigma started a post last year about it and what he makes and it has generated a pretty good list so far. These people seem willing to share, anonymously, but still willing.
Is there ever a GOOD time to ask what someone makes? Maybe a rephrase, is there ever an appropriate time to ask what someone makes? I ran across a post my MyOpenWallet and they said:
“The question isn’t one that people are used to asking, I think. It seems rude, and your motivation for asking could be questionable. In many cases, maybe people would rather not know. But more often, I’m sure people are dying to know, although they would never dream of just coming out and saying it: “How much money do you make?”
And I agree – it DOES seem rude, but is that a thing that is a mindset? Would you care as much if you knew EVERYONES salary? if you knew the salary your boss, his boss, your co-workers, your family, your friends – would it numb the subject any? I’d think it would certainly change things up, but in different facets. The newly found rich people would be hit up by charities more, the poorer people wouldn’t have to try to live up the Joneses mentality, and likely would be richer by NOT having to live up to something they weren’t.
Ultimately it sounds like the issue isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I’m sure I’m not going to be passing on any new developments on that front because to me, it is rude, at least at this point in my life… Convince me differently?
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I think one of the biggest reason is that corporate doesn’t want you doing it. Discussion of salary means that your employees know if they are being paid appropriate to their skill set (or being paid unfairly due to prejudice.) Even if everyone is being paid fairly, knowing your coworkers salaries can cause major dissension in the workplace.
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