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Antiwork

Why do people hide how much they’re paid?

I just asked a coworker how much she makes (she's permanent and higher ranked while I'm temporary) and she told me it was personal. I immediately backed off – since she gets to decide what she discloses – but this left me with a nagging question (I won't press her on it). Why do people treat their salaries like a closely guarded secret even though making it open helps fight things like pay discrimination and exploitation? EDIT: How do I fight this culture while minimizing the risk of my company retaliating?


I just asked a coworker how much she makes (she's permanent and higher ranked while I'm temporary) and she told me it was personal. I immediately backed off – since she gets to decide what she discloses – but this left me with a nagging question (I won't press her on it). Why do people treat their salaries like a closely guarded secret even though making it open helps fight things like pay discrimination and exploitation?

EDIT: How do I fight this culture while minimizing the risk of my company retaliating?

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