Is it disrespectful to ask how much you earn in the workplace ?

[GrumpyGregry]

If it is ok to ask is it also ok not to answer?

 

[marinyork]

It's only disrespectful in the sense of if you are measuring a person by what they earn.

Secrecy can be a complete disaster in terms of equal pay. In my old job some people had greater knowledge of their arch rival's payscales and terms and conditions than they did their own!

 

[marinyork]

You may well be surprised - long termers in my company generally get paid less than the new blood.

Was a pet hate in my old job that some long termers earned either the same or less than someone who walked in the door. Regrettably they never did anything about it.

 

[blackgoff]

I started this from an instance wherby a 'colleague' asked myself...

I was most affronted by this and bluffed it off in some way.

There're some great points here

 

[byegad]

I'd say not disrespectful, but none of your business!

 

[Ian H]

Our Ts & Cs forbid telling colleagues your salary. Apparently it is done for a valid reason. What that is nobody can tell me . It is a disciplinary offence and has lead to a dismissal.

Divide and rule.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

It's ok to ask. It's not ok to giggle when they tell you though.

 

[marinyork]

I started this from an instance wherby a 'colleague' asked myself...

I was most affronted by this and bluffed it off in some way.

There're some great points here

My perspective is from a lot time of talking about the topic to legal circles and lots of people in more than one organisation.

Most people get 'like work' and 'work rated as equivalent' (even if most of us think they are imperfect) but 'work of equal value' is a very controversial and polarising topic. Even for people that believe in it and think there's something wrong there's a lot of psychology involved too it's very much traumatic bonding.

 

[Hover Fly]

We all know what each other is on anyway within narrow limits coz we all read the job adverts.

 

[Ian H]

I think 'impolite' might be a better word than 'disrespectful', seeing as we're talking about conversations amongst equals.

 

[Arrowfoot]

I would not even ask the question. To many people its rather personal and the question intent is do a comparison of skill and reward. If not why ask. Sometimes it leads to unpleasant consequences but mostly you will be known as the bloke that asked the awkward question and it will hang over you as a label.

What you can however do is to request HR to provide an industry benchmark and your current remuneration. If it is medium size to a large company they are obliged to provide the answer and address the discrepancy. I have seen 2 benchmarks and the the details of vocations and grade are quite granular and values are validated every 2 to 3 years .

 

[Hip Priest]

It's a bit impolite to ask. However, a colleague once revealed that he was earning more than me, so I called a meeting with my line manager to request that I be put on the same salary on the basis that I did more work than him anyway. My request was accepted!

 

[gbb]

Depends on the culture and organisation.
Large multi national i used to work for, everyone knew what everyone earned, it was all negotiated and published.
In my current company, everyone is on different contracts, even when doing the same kind of job. Personally i wouldnt ask.....why?

When i was 16 and naive, in my first job, first time i'd met this particular person and was having a break with him. Just trying to find something to open a conversation with, i was asking about our jobs and responsibilities...i then innocently asked 'how much do you earn ?'...more to guage where i might be headed. His terse answer...
'thats my business...you don't ever ask how much someone earns '
'Oh...sorry '

 

[Ian H]

In parts of the Indian sub-continent it's a normal conversation opener: "Are you married? How much do you earn?" This discombobulates your average Brit.

 

[martint235]

In parts of the Indian sub-continent it's a normal conversation opener: "Are you married? How much do you earn?" This discombobulates your average Brit.

Many years ago when still single, it seemed to be all girls in Blackheath thought about: "You work in IT? How much do you earn?". Thank god the Anderson Androids had no personality