3 ms·

Pay transparency doesn't necessarily mean you're personally identifiable. That aside, what are the downsides?

s1artibartfast 5y ago
Not necessarily, but it is probably the most common way it has been implemented in the US, and a potential downside depending on implementation. Another downside is that it could release competitive information from private companies.
- endisneigh 5y ago
  Sure, and the upside is a strengthened position as a prospective employee. As an employee or prospective employee to a new organization, what's the downside?
  - s1artibartfast 5y ago
    If you are currently underpaid, it could reduce you leverage with the prospective employer. I have 2Xed my pay because a new employer didn't know my current rate.
    - endisneigh 5y ago
      They still wouldn't know your rate. As I mentioned before, pay transparency isn't necessarily personally identifiable. Hypothetically you could've 4X'd your rate. Maybe your 2X rate is actually a lowball. Who's to say?
      - s1artibartfast 5y ago
        yeah, it really all comes down to implementation. How much information is available an to whom. Being able to look up anyone by name in a public registry and see their exact salary would probably be a worst case This is the current state for public employees. Anonymized data for companies larger than a certain size with job class (like levels.fyi[1]) would probably be a best case. However, if you want to get meaningful information about sex, race, age, & gender, this information quickly becomes identifiable for even moderate companies. https://www.levels.fyi/?compare=Google,Facebook,Microsoft&track=Software%20Engineer https://www.levels.fyi/?compare=Google,Facebook,Microsoft&tr...
landryraccoon 5y ago
Given the amount of tracking that's possible today, I think that anybody who cared would be able to easily determine your exact salary if the salary of every position at a company were published.

Not necessarily, but it is probably the most common way it has been implemented in the US, and a potential downside depending on implementation. Another downside is that it could release competitive information from private companies.

endisneigh 5y ago
Sure, and the upside is a strengthened position as a prospective employee. As an employee or prospective employee to a new organization, what's the downside?
- s1artibartfast 5y ago
  If you are currently underpaid, it could reduce you leverage with the prospective employer. I have 2Xed my pay because a new employer didn't know my current rate.
  - endisneigh 5y ago
    They still wouldn't know your rate. As I mentioned before, pay transparency isn't necessarily personally identifiable. Hypothetically you could've 4X'd your rate. Maybe your 2X rate is actually a lowball. Who's to say?
    - s1artibartfast 5y ago
      yeah, it really all comes down to implementation. How much information is available an to whom. Being able to look up anyone by name in a public registry and see their exact salary would probably be a worst case This is the current state for public employees. Anonymized data for companies larger than a certain size with job class (like levels.fyi[1]) would probably be a best case. However, if you want to get meaningful information about sex, race, age, & gender, this information quickly becomes identifiable for even moderate companies. https://www.levels.fyi/?compare=Google,Facebook,Microsoft&track=Software%20Engineer https://www.levels.fyi/?compare=Google,Facebook,Microsoft&tr...

landryraccoon 5y ago

Given the amount of tracking that's possible today, I think that anybody who cared would be able to easily determine your exact salary if the salary of every position at a company were published.