Yahoo Finance Woman tweets pay details after resigning: Is that legal?
A journalists's tweet revealing her salary details after she resigned has received an overwhelming response with many Twitter users coming forward to share their own views.
Victoria Walker, a senior reporter at New York City-based publication The Points Guy tweeted the precise salary figure she was being paid and also encouraged those applying for her old job to ask for more.
After receiving a positive response from her tweet, Walker confessed she was unsure whether sharing the information was the right thing to do.
“I debated whether I wanted to be so transparent but as journalists, we cannot demand transparency from powerful entities without being willing to do the same ourselves. So, #shareyoursalary”, she tweeted.
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One Twitter user commented, “I believe this is the first step for equity everywhere! Salary transparency is a must and it’s a sure way of levelling the playing field for everyone!”
Oh! Before I forget -- if you apply for my old job as Senior Travel Reporter, you should ask for no less than 115k, a signing bonus &a relocation bonus if you're moving to NYC. In full transparency, I was at 107k. I believe being transparent is one way to achieve equity in media.
— Victoria M. Walker (@vikkie) February 2, 2022
According to The Independent a 2020 survey of almost 3,000 workers in the UK, commissioned by the Trades Union Congress, found that almost a fifth (18 per cent) have been told by employers that they are banned from discussing their pay with fellow staff members.
The survey also found that 50 per cent of employees are not aware of details about the pay of senior managers in their workplaces. Another 53 per cent said they didn't know pay details of other employees within their organisation.
Is sharing salary details legal in Australia
Discussing salary is a sensitive topic, but it is not illegal in Australia.
The general etiquette is to maintain confidentiality of salary to avoid conflict and unhealthy competition.
While open policies around employees’ salary may allow for a transparent and equal workplace, confidentiality around pay can also minimise hostility and competition.
In some places, pay secrecy clauses restrict divulgence of salary and remuneration packages.
Pros and cons of salary secrecy clauses
Some believe that salary secrecy clauses protect the privacy of the employee and the company and gives less room for hostility and awkwardness between employees.
This in turn can lead to a healthy collaboration and growth for all employees and the smooth functioning of an organisation.
It can also facilitate individual growth in terms of key performance indicators (KPI’s), rewards and salary hikes.
Salary secrecy clauses also make room for greater bargaining power during the recruitment process for new hires.
It helps recruiters choose the right person for the job and adjust the salary depending on their level of competency.On the other hand, it may encourage unfair discrimination in the workplace.
However, pay disparity, especially between genders, is an ongoing problem. Being transparent about salary and remuneration might help bridge this gap and level the playing field.
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