Employee finds out coworker makes $6/hr more than them despite same job and similar background: 'I feel like I've been underpaid for years without knowing it'

For some reason, it's become gauche to talk about how much money you make. In American culture, we feel that it's impolite lest you alienate someone or seem like you're bragging. In reality, it's just another piece of information and it need not define us. Plus, it can be super helpful to talk about how much money you make, so you can arm yourself with at least anecdotal data. Maybe you're gone years thinking you're making an average amount, and then you find out all your friends who are in similar situations are making more than you. 

You might then feel like you're being taken advantage of, and maybe it spurs you to have a conversation with your boss. Information is power, and we shouldn't be shy about sharing it with other people. Honesty is always the best policy, especially in the workplace. But this is much easier said than done, given how employers like to discourage discussion of wages. They do that to keep us from situations like this one, where an employee found out some pretty upsetting information.

Author image for JR Atkinson JR Atkinson
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