There are less awkward ways to share the information with friends. Like when my buddy first bitched about the AMT. Or when I first bitched that I wasn't Roth-deduction eligible.

But it isn't as big a deal between real friends. If someone asks I tell. Not a secret.

My friends and relatives have a bimodal distribution. They either make truckloads more green than me (most of 'em) or they're poor as dirt (only a few that have professions like "artist" or "grade school teacher").

 

So many spot on answers.

1. the dick size thing
2. jealousy within a workplace.

 

Because the women who get paid less start to cry and bitch about it.

 

I'm in a role at the company I work at where I know the pay of everyone in the company. Our payroll admin is not authorized to discuss pay with anyone, nor is our HR rep. I tell everyone else not to talk about their pay, but a lot of them do anyway. If someone comes bitching about not being paid enough, we tell them that they are welcome to go find a job that pays what they want, otherwise they should shut their mouth and work harder so they can earn more in the future.

If you're not happy with your pay, then go get another job or work harder, so you can get paid more in the future. Comparing yourself to other people is just ignorant.

The only people that know what I make are my wife, my dad, and my best friend.

 

At my last job, we were unionized, so it wouldn't take much to figure out what your co-workers were making if you knew where they were on the salary grid. I didn't really care though.

 

I was in charge of the pay checks...I printed out all the stubs...Basically did financial BS, though I was still considered a manager...

 

[QUOTE=QUIKAG,Jul 31 2008, 10:38 AM] If you're not happy with your pay, then go get another job or work harder, so you can get paid more in the future.

 

i literally just got out of my bosses office. someone in the office was telling people how much i made and it is now being used in negotiations for raises. i feel like a jackass now and i did not even do anything

 

I happen to agree that comparison to direct peers is a pretty good gauge of what incomes SHOULD be. There is a blend between industry standards, internal company standards, and expectations based on personal performance.

For example, I think I make comparable money to the other people in my position in my company. Jump a level to what people are making at other companies and I will tell you that I believe I am making less. Could I make more elsewhere? I sure think so. Am I out of line with what people are making here? No.


I think I am underpaid by industry standards, but I am fairly paid by company standards. So in the end, yes, I would make more if I left the company.

 

You misunderstood what I was saying and that is probably my fault. What I was trying to say was that if you aren't happy with what you're getting paid and you think the man is giving you the shaft, then go work somewhere else or work harder so you're paid more in the future.

Comparing yourself to others within the company is too shortsighted in my opinion. Find out what you're worth in the market and if you're company isn't paying adequately, then get another job offer and tell your current company that you're leaving. If they care enough to keep you, then tell them what it will take.

Here is my whole point. Let's say I was making $50k out of school and I knew a few of my peers were making $54k and a few were making $48k or whatever. If I wasted my time worrying about what others were making and not focusing on the important stuff (like working hard, getting experience, getting additional certifications/training and other more important things in life) then I would not be where I'm at today. My peers back at my original company are probably making $90-110k now based on current salary rates in their industry. I am in a different industry now and am quite happy where I'm at relative to my former peers.

I know it's a bit idealistic, but don't let your peer group be your focus and define who you are or what you're worth. Break out of the mold.