A workplace conversation about salaries left an employee worried after he was called for a meeting with human resources.
The man said he and a co-worker had casually compared their pay, only to discover a noticeable difference despite doing largely the same job.
(Also read: Noida woman questions ₹ 15,000 salary for 12-hour shifts amid high rent: ‘How are we supposed to live?’ )
“A co-worker and I were talking about salaries recently and ended up comparing what we make. Turns out, there’s a pretty noticeable pay difference even though we do basically the same job. I wasn’t organising anything or telling people to complain. I just answered a question about my own salary. Now I’m wondering if I should’ve just kept my mouth shut. Take a look here at the post: Several people came out in support of the employee and questioned why the discussion had become an issue in the first place. “Legally, it is free speech. However, most companies frown upon sharing salary information, as it inevitably reveals inequities. It is your call, but it is probably best to keep it quiet. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)
Because it was just a private conversation, but somehow it got around the office, and now HR wants to meet with me,” he wrote, i didn’t think much of it.
What made the situation more uncomfortable, according to the employee, was a remark from his manager suggesting that conversations around pay could create trouble in the workplace. “My manager said that discussing pay can “cause problems” in the workplace, which honestly made me nervous. Has anyone else had HR approach them after discussing salary with co-workers?” he added. (Also read: ‘Same role, but 3-4x more pay’: Indian employee compares work culture with US colleagues ) The post was shared with the title, “Can your employer get you in trouble for discussing your salary with co-workers? If HR approaches you, I would follow up with an email to document the conversation” one user wrote. (Also read: ‘I got burnt out’: Employee says delayed salaries made him quit ₹ 20 LPA role ) Another person backed greater openness around compensation, saying, “Employees should discuss pay. A third user pointed towards the disparity itself rather than the conversation that exposed it, writing, “Pay gaps deserve questions.” (Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media.
