Salary Confidentiality

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Am I over reacting on not?

I work in a small facility so the gossip and rumor mill is always in full swing.

A nurse aid mentioned to me that one of the nurses was a bit angry with her salary and was talking about other nurses and ancillary staff (including department heads) salaries and hourly rate. She was very specific with what we are all making. The union staff..no secret since it is posted. I think the new hires have a basic rate too, so I guess not a secret but department heads (salaried) and older staff??? Shouldn't be public knowledge.

I guess my issue is that, yes, it is actually in our employee handbook that salaries are a private matter and should remain that way. We all know that it talked about but I'm some what perplexed on how the information can be so specific on so many people non nursing. I'm confident that they wouldn't be sharing their salaries and it makes me wonder who exactly is sharing this information? The administrator? DON? (why would she know that other departments make).

WWYD? Compliance issue? Bring this up with the administrator who might be the leak, blow it off and only bring it up if it becomes an issue?

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

How does this affect you in any way and why is it an issue that prevents you from doing your job?

[AJJKRN]

How does this affect you in any way and why is it an issue that prevents you from doing your job?

My work place is like this. They say they want to keep salary out of the mainstream conversations between staff to keep communication open and respectful. Really...while not really everyone's buisiness but to be so hush hush about seems that there is only one real agenda in mind. Keeping pay rates from being competitive!

[Ruger8mm]

I never understood what the big secret regarding income and net worth was all about. We openly share that info amongst our group. Helps with investing tips and conversations.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Your right. It really doesn't change the way I do my job, but when you have people that want to get nasty and make comments "let her do it, she gets the big bucks" or "i don't get paid enough do do that" (who does, lol) It will get old.

I guess I got my panties in a bunch over the fact that the only way this person would have the information would be to have gone thru employee files. (I have nothing to hide in mine....its rather boring!) If you don't like how much you are getting paid, 1. don't take the job 2. talk to your manager 3. let your feet do the walking....quit complaining.

I'm clueless to what the other nurses are making. I've been there so long I don't know what the new nurses get or new hires. Aint none of my business, I'm happy with what i do get paid. Now...that said, sometimes I wonder if I'm short selling myself especially on those super crazy days.

Eh...small facilities are grand!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I never understood what the big secret regarding income and net worth was all about.

When I accepted an employment offer for a new job three months ago, the recruiter specifically told me not to divulge my salary to others.

There's a reason for this: in spite of equal opportunity mandates, two different employees with similar experiential levels can be earning drastically different salaries. And, as usual, the employee who earns less money becomes resentful and stirs up issues with management.

The best way to keep the peace would be to pay everyone the same. However, since this will never happen, the next best thing is to avoid discussing pay or finances.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

When I accepted an employment offer for a new job three months ago, the recruiter specifically told me not to divulge my salary to others.

There's a reason for this: in spite of equal opportunity mandates, two different employees with similar experiential levels can be earning drastically different salaries. And, as usual, the employee who earns less money becomes resentful and stirs up issues with management.

The best way to keep the peace would be to pay everyone the same. However, since this will never happen, the next best thing is to avoid discussing pay or finances.

And that is why most places have a policy for this.

Hubby works in car sales as a manager. There are 20 different pay plans for just as many sales persons. It is crazy!

[AmeliaBe]

The National Labor Relations Act says that employers cannot prevent employees from discussing wages and working conditions among themselves.

[TacoBelle]

The National Labor Relations Act says that employers cannot prevent employees from discussing wages and working conditions among themselves.

I came here to say this.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

The National Labor Relations Act says that employers cannot prevent employees from discussing wages and working conditions among themselves.

That's good to know. I guess since said nurse is a supervisor that might make it different. Talking with other staff, I think our big issues isn't about the talking about it but how they came about the information. If it was looking thru employee files, I think it would be a breach of confidentiality. I don't need this person getting a hold of my SS number with my address and other information there.