Salaries
July 8th, 2007
Ever since we were little, we have been taught that talking about money is uncouth. Don’t ask how much it cost. Don’t talk about your salary.
Why is the subject taboo? What would happen if everybody knew everybody else’s compensation? Would chaos ensue? Would employees use the knowledge to their employers’ disadvantage? Would it increase real wages?
Instead, we’re stuck guessing about fair salaries using abysmal tools like salary.com. We’re left wondering whether the conspicuous consumption exhibited by our peers is in a indication of true wealth or heavy debt.
Maybe it shouldn’t matter. Maybe I’m shallow for wondering. But wonder, I do.
(This post is part of the 100/100/100 challenge)
so how much do you make?
A fair question. If you’re really curious, I’ll tell you via email or AIM.
Not here nor there since it’s nothing like a quality control to make a comment on: but in over here in the PRC, asking, and telling monthly salary is perfectly normal. Now, if only people could muster the courage to deliver news when it’s something other than rosy…
I remember in a job I enjoyed, HR accidently printed out all employee’s salaries out on my printer without realizing it. Definitely difficult not to look at it. So I looked, what an eye opener it was. The disparate array of salaries for the same job was quite amazing. Had nothing to do with people’s skills or abilities, (well apart from their salary negotiation skills)
After that, my job was miserable. I was not one of the better negotiators 🙁