Courtesy of Ryan Stygar
While some consider it unprofessional to discuss the details of your compensation with coworkers, the topic of salary transparency has become increasingly popular in the workplace as young professionals rail against wage discrimination.
Recent social media trends around the topic provide a glimpse into shifting norms around discussing salaries in the workplace. On TikTok, there's been a rise of creators encouraging the discussion of pay among coworkers and providing advice on how to navigate the sensitive topic.
Career strategy coach Tiffany Uman advised a commenter who just found out they make $8,000 less than a coworker to "initiate a salary review conversation" with their boss.
Another creator, known as Attorney Ryan, garnered nearly 400,000 likes on his video encouraging salary discussion as a way to prevent "pay discrimination."
"Actually did (discuss salary) once," one commenter wrote. "Company wound up owing one person 8 months of back pay."
Although the professionalism of salary discussing will likely continue to be debated, it's a federally protected right under the National Labor Relations Act. And while to some it may be considered taboo, there's proof that racial and gender wage gaps exist within companies.
In 2021, corporate consulting firm McKinsey & Company estimated about 2 million Black Americans could climb up economic class if they were paid as much as their White coworkers, CBS says in the report.
Compensation expert David Turetsky told CBS "there's no way of getting around" pay transparency. He says it's the future, thanks largely to the efforts of young professionals.
Turetsky's belief is supported by a GoBankingRates survey published in September. When survey respondents were asked if they've discussed their salaries with close friends, 37% of Gen Zers said "yes" while only 15% Gen Xers answered the same.
"Older generations were taught not to talk about money and that the subject itself is taboo," etiquette expert Elaine Swann said in the report. "Younger people tend to be much more open about all sorts of things — everything from how much they paid for something to how much they make."
Despite the younger generation's outlook on salary discussion, Turetsky said these conversations aren't always easy to conduct.
"Your colleague could be lying to you and gaming you to see what you're making. They might not show all their cards. Or you could find out they earn a bonus and you don't," he said.
