Accidentally told my coworker what I make, BIG ISSUES NOW

[newrn93]

Hi all! So I am relatively a new graduate (3 months prior experience) before landing a job at a SNF. I have only been there for a week and although I was told during the interview that I would be working nights, my manager wanted me on the 3-11 shift to learn admissions for a month. I've been working with this RN for about 2 days now and shes really nice. We talk about out personal lives and etc. (For example she had a daughter by someone who is the same ethnic background as me..etc). So I'm explain my experience from my last job at a large teaching hospital and simply mention that I am taking a pay cut but its worth it because I want the experience. She then asks "Oh what are they starting you at." I stupidly tell her my wage (37) and didn't think anything of it. I explain that I usually leave the part on the application where it says to put your desired wage blank but this time around I put a high wage (I was getting paid 5 dollars more at my last job than this one.) She then says oh wow your very lucky and that they didnt start her at that wage and she put 38 on her application but management told her that they couldn't afford to pay her that. Anyways she says I'm lucky and we leave it at that.

My next day, I notice that she is acting a bit different but didn't think anything of it...it is a stressful job however. I do notice however that we dont seem to see eachother at all and that she didn't teach the the computer system (the most important part) but is teaching the other new hire the computer system. When I sit down to observe so I can learn the phone rings. She quickly looks at me and says "Can you answer the phone in a dismissive tone." Again, didn't think anything of it.

When night shift comes on, one of the night nurses says its her last day. No body knows why it seems very VERY abrupt because nobody talked about it before. I see her and this other nurse(my preceptor I suppose) kind of talking privately. This nurse that resigned was a nice girl and I ask "Oh where are you going?" All she says is "Somewhere." which again I thought was a bit odd.

The next day my manager comes up to me and asks me to meet him in his office. By his tone I can tell something was wrong but have no idea. He asks me if I told anyone my wage and I said yes to my preceptor. He then informs me that 1 nurse (the night nurse) quit because of it and that 2 more are considering quitting. I explain that it was naive and I didn't know i confided in her. He tells me she is not your friend, she went and told everyone and that she is already treating you differently. He then says next shift you will be on nights, I need to get you away from them. EVERYTHING now makes sense to me.

Sorry for the long post but what should I do or is there anything that I can do to rectify this situation. Should I confront/talk to this nurse who went and talked about me to everyone? I do not know how much the other nurses are making and had NO IDEA I was even making more than them. IDK if its because I have my BSN or bc they knew I wouldn't have accepted a job or a wage any lower when I was making $5 more at my last job. I feel HORRIBLY about this especially because our SNF is already so short-staffed.

[newrn93]

Thanks, im slowly starting to get over this madness. Although it was technically my fault I've never experienced anything like this especially in the workplace. I'll take this forum's and my managers advice and focus on my work. However I wonder if she didn't get a raise or if her raise didn't go as high as my salary. I seriously wonder with hows she's acting more and more, well you know. Ahh well not my issue I guess.

Don't feel too bad. Just consider this your lesson...You can't share certain things with certain people at work especially when you are new. You gotta learn the players on the chess board first. The relationships that are in place are key.

[Scroll89]

it is incredibly naïve to believe that an employer who chooses to terminate an employee who has created a hostile work environment because of salary discussions is going to do or say anything that links the two, termination and salary discussions. I mean really does anyone find any HR that stupid?

An employee will be terminated for a Bad Fit. Lack of Teamwork. Inability to get along cohesively with coworkers. And they don't have to say anything at all, other than So Sorry, Didn't Work Out!

Thank you, this was the exact point I was attempting to make earlier.

[imenid37]

She tricked you. She asked you what she did, specifically to cause trouble. You are new and would not really have known what you were saying would be a huge problem. Lesson learned that unfortunately many nurses are not altruistic all caring angels. None of us are, of course. We are human. Some of us humans are simply not nice people. This is a real shame, but very true. I feel sad that you had to learn this lesson. Never forget it. Most people are pretty decent, but many are hiding their nasty insecure personalities well. Always be kind and polite, but don't share anything personal with anyone until you know them very well. I'd say honestly, never share your salary. The boss sounds like a bit of a jerk too.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I'm going thru this same thing right now. I have found out that numerous other nurses are making more than me, even though I have YEARS more experience. We currently have a wage freeze, so I cannot ask for a raise. We aren't union. I took a pay cut when I accepted this job, 7 years ago. It is forbidden to disclose your salary here, too. If they paid nurses according to a scale commensurate with their experience, there wouldn't be a problem. All the secrecy does is make nurses feel hurt and jealous, and wonder if they are being discriminated against.

Makes you wonder about the one who quit immediately. I mean, I can see being perturbed by finding out a relative newbie us making more than you but there had to be more to why she left. Maybe this was the last straw after previous issues at the facility. I just cannot imagine quitting like that SOLELY over this. Am I wrong? Maybe the woman just has poor impulse control. Who knows.

You are wrong on this. I can definitely see, and have seen a nurse quit abruptly for exactly that reason. Imagine being a reliable employee, one that shows up every shift and does a darn good job. Goes above and beyond to help out a new employee only to find out a few days later this new employee is being paid considerably more. Not a few cents more but several dollars an hour more. She made the reason she was leaving very clear and I can't say as I blame her.

Heck if I actually knew what the new nurses we hired are making, which sadly is at least as much if not more than me I would consider the same. It's just that pesky benefit of a great schedule and tons of paid vacation that hold me back.

[anitalaff, BSN, RN]

I agree. Wage secrecy is not an appropriate standard for a culture that is supposed to be about teamwork and building trust both with our patients and with each other. Corporate cultures that promote secrecy do so in order to hide ridiculous CEO salaries which are often not related to performance targets.

In health care, we do not need this mentality- it serves no one.

[tara07733]

Very well said. I also grew up with my parents indicating someone's income was their private business so it was eye opening and liberating when I started questioning the automatic adages I was raised believing.

Perhaps it would be worthwhile for us all to consider there are many things we were raised to accept that might need adjusting in today's world?

For the youngings: Life isn't fair and not everyone will think you are as wonderful as Mommy and Daddy

For us oldtimers: Don't have sex before marriage

Lol, just thought I'd add some sparks this am.

Yes! And I go as far as saying that many, if not most, are taught early on not to talk about money/personal finances at all. Which could have something to do with the lack of knowledge about money and finances. I know that's a totally 'nother post but all these things affect us negatively individually. But it's really eye opening how we will stand behind employers on this type of things but want to vilify the OP (though I admit that many here are in support of OP).

[lucy100]

This exact situation occurs every few years in my workplace. Experienced nurses who have 3+ years of experience discover (through the grapevine) that new graduate RN's have the same or sometimes slightly higher rates of pay. In my workplace, non-union, seniority means NOTHING!!! The experienced nurse becomes disgruntled and starts looking for a new job (they really are not angry at the new nurses just frustrated with the situation). In ANY workplace (not just nursing) employees who work for the same company/ same position more than 2 or 3 years will make less money than new hires! The practice of job hopping will earn you a higher salary and is no longer considered suspicious. The idea of going to an employer and just staying there until retirement (or even 5 years) is antiquated. The best career advice I have been given: take every opportunity, challenge, certification opportunity, tuition reimbursement you can extract from current employer. Once you have mastered that field or are no longer growing, graciously quit and move on to a new opportunity. Never be afraid to ask for a high rate of pay (even if it sounds crazy).

The concept of oversharing with coworkers is always a tough learning curve that we all struggle with. All nurses new and experienced can benefit from learning more about navigating office politics! There are many great books on the subject. It helps to learn the rules of how to play the game!

[AussieRN36]

Wow. In Australia Grad RNs go to level 1.1 salary, then the following year it's 1.2 salary, then the salary goes up in increments to level 1.8. Then there's level 2.0 and beyond that can be applied for when suitably experienced. The pay situation sounds pretty rough in US! You guys should come and work here lol.

Nobody bats an eyelid over pay here.

[NurseBre94, ASN]

Wow this is an interesting post as my mother just told me yesterday not to tell people my pay. I am a new grad LPN, 22 years old, and accepted a new position at my current job at a LTC facility. I've worked there 2 years as a CNA before getting my license to be a nurse.

I never thought it was a big deal but it can create issues especially if you have a lot of peers that make less than you. That is when the hate starts to happen and I want to avoid that. I despise drama and salary will cause that in some workplaces. People become jealous when you make more than them and may act different so take it with a grain of salt and move on!

[kspi355]

I'm going thru this same thing right now. I have found out that numerous other nurses are making more than me, even though I have YEARS more experience. We currently have a wage freeze, so I cannot ask for a raise. We aren't union. I took a pay cut when I accepted this job, 7 years ago. It is forbidden to disclose your salary here, too. If they paid nurses according to a scale commensurate with their experience, there wouldn't be a problem. All the secrecy does is make nurses feel hurt and jealous, and wonder if they are being discriminated against.

They can't forbid it, that's illegal. And exceptions are made all the time during so-called "wage freezes" (aka Make Sure We Can Pay CEO Bonuses).

You absolutely should be asking for a raise- and don't take no for an answer. Someone will give you a raise, even if it's not your current company.

Today's culture of 1-2% yearly raises is largely to blame- in the past, it was closer to 5-8%. So now in order to get appropriate raises, it is common to get a new job. With a new job comes a new wage, often in the 10-20% range.

It is common, even expected, to get a new job every 2-3 years in many industries. HR will think it's normal. It's time to show you're worth it by walking out the door if they don't pay you what you're worth.

[Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP]

Some people are just too petty. I like people but I'm very private at work because I'm aware of what jealousy can and does to some people. If you can find a new job, I'd go.

Good luck!

[kspi355]

Employee A has been with Company A for 10 years. They were likely hired at a market price that was equitable for that time frame and cost of living.

Employee B is a brand new hire and is hired at a rate that exceeds employee A simply because cost of living adjustment has increased the base rate far greater than employee A's annual adjustments over the last 10 years.

Edit: For those of you, like me, that like to see the numbers in action you can use a simple compounding interest calculator to see how this works.

Employee A starting wage 20$. Average 3% raise per year, compounded over 10 years = $26.88.

Employee B started 10 years later, which is quite significant given the sharp increase in cost of living, at 30$ an hour.

As simple as that.

This is EXACTLY why people leave every 2-3 years in many industries. It's inefficient as heck, when paying employees what they're worth would both reduce turnover and improve morale. One of many reasons why unions still have value- IF members act to curb fellow union members who don't behave professionally.