I would get the data first before approaching you and then lie about whether I had already done so. It's the sort of white lie that protects both parties. If

I would get the data first before approaching you and then lie about whether I had already done so. It's the sort of white lie that protects both parties. If your dog died that day, you might just fire me on the spot. Or if I'm making close to market rate, I should STFU and stop trying to microoptimize. But if I have uncovered a huge pay discrepancy, you have already failed me. Both you and your HR department in fact. Sadly, I suspect that across many individuals, this is a winning strategy because most people don't actively manage their careers (to their detriment). If the company has cutbacks, everyone's head is on the guillotine and it's time to jump ship anyway before the signal hits the employment market.