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> Closed salaries only benefit the other side of the negotiating table - the employers - who then divide and conquer. Closed salaries might also benefit some e
by vosper 9y ago
> Closed salaries only benefit the other side of the negotiating table - the employers - who then divide and conquer.
Closed salaries might also benefit some employees. I think most people will agree that across any job title, or team, there are people who're favored in some way - better at their job, fun to be around, great motivators or mediators, whatever it is. It might be possible for these people to get better pay for themselves because the company doesn't have to give a commensurate increase to everyone.
- joombaga 9y agoClosed salaries would've helped me in a recent salary negotiation. The company's open salaries in combination with their tiered salary concept contributed to their refusal of a raise in starting base salary. "Everyone knows what a Tier 4 FTE starts at, so if I start you higher then I have to give everyone a raise". No problem if we could just keep my salary a secret. On the other hand, I don't think it's my employer's business with whom I share my salary, though I could see this secrecy being part of an employment contract.
- hammock 9y agoOpen salaries is not the root problem in your example, it's the rigid "tiers."
- morgante 9y agoRigidity in salaries is a natural end result of open salaries, as otherwise everyone demands explanations of why someone else is making more. Even in this thread you already see people calling for unionization and collective bargaining to ensure everyone gets their "fair share."
- onion2k 9y agoIt might be possible for these people to get better pay for themselves because the company doesn't have to give a commensurate increase to everyone. So long as the reason why someone is paid more is also public then it's fine. People could use that as motivation to improve - seeing someone else rewarded for something is a brilliant driving force to do it yourself as well.
- pizza234 9y agoSo long as the reason why someone is paid more is also public then it's fine. You're assuming perfectly rational behavior, which is... not human. I'm not arguing against open salaries (I am in such condition), but assuming rational actors is not realistic. In particular, an example justification along the lines of "X takes more because is a better programmer than you are" is very dangerous, not only in the obvious way.
- Godel_unicode 9y agoI don't know about you, but I have a number of more experienced but less productive colleagues who have been known to gripe about bonuses and raises not being directly tied to seniority. They often pine for unions, where time in grade leads inexorably to higher salary and these young hotshots would have to wait their turn.