'We shouldn't be talking about our wages': Employee exchanges fiery emails with HR after manager reprimands him for discussing his salary with his coworkers

This employee was sick and tired of being intimidated by HR when he knew his rights inside and out.

Let this story serve as a friendly reminder that you are permitted to discuss your salary privately with your coworkers. It doesn't matter whether or not those conversations are an inconvenience to your employer. That's their problem to fix. After all, they offered and agreed upon those salaries. If they cannot provide a legitimate reason as to why Jim is making twice as much as Joanne despite the fact that they are working the same job with the same responsibilities, then that's their issue.

This employee was reprimanded for being transparent with his coworkers about his annual salary, which prompted him to go above his manager and send the email (included below) to HR. It ended up taking the department five business days to respond to this completely valid and reasonable message… probably because they had no idea what to say. After all, the author pointed out that there could be no legitimate legal recourse for having this transparent conversations. 

Keep scrolling below for the full email exchange, including HR's carefully worded and empty response. 

Author image for Ben Weiss Ben Weiss
Add us on Google
Advertisement

Stay up to date by following us on Facebook!

Tags

salary workplace-stories toxic-manager wage theft employee work stories toxic-workplace manager job work wages human resources company money toxic-work-environment
Scroll Down For The Next Article

Also From FAIL Blog

Entitled brothers cut contact with their brother and his wife, after the couple refused to take in and solely care for their elderly parents, despite his wife being a SAHM and having a nursing background: 'I suggested a nursing home or assisted living'

Entitled brothers cut contact with their brother and his wife, after the couple refused to take in and solely care for their elderly parents, despite his wife being a SAHM and having a nursing background: 'I suggested a nursing home or assisted living'

Trending Now

Online handbag seller refuses to send bag to entitled customer after they demand a refund for two past orders, leading to a dispute on the site: ‘I decided to cancel the order’

Online handbag seller refuses to send bag to entitled customer after they demand a refund for two past orders, leading to a dispute on the site: ‘I decided to cancel the order’

01
Employee informs manager he has to miss work due to medical emergency, HR reframes this as a resignation: 'I never resigned!'

Employee informs manager he has to miss work due to medical emergency, HR reframes this as a resignation: 'I never resigned!'

02
Resident claims she “keeps the neighborhood's standards high” by reporting false complaints to the HOA about other neighbors, they form a plan to sue: ‘The HOA won't do anything about her’

Resident claims she “keeps the neighborhood's standards high” by reporting false complaints to the HOA about other neighbors, they form a plan to sue: ‘The HOA won't do anything about her’

03
Retail employee tells off their manager, Gary, pointing out his failure to handle his own tasks when he starts micromanaging theirs: ‘Slow clap for the hero in aisle 7'

Retail employee tells off their manager, Gary, pointing out his failure to handle his own tasks when he starts micromanaging theirs: ‘Slow clap for the hero in aisle 7'

04
Manager forces fast food employee to work while sick, employee goes over manager's head: 'Let's see what YOUR boss has to say'

Manager forces fast food employee to work while sick, employee goes over manager's head: 'Let's see what YOUR boss has to say'

05
21-year-old bagel store cashier refuses to shovel snow for demanding boss: 'I'm not going to do that... for $15 an hour'

21-year-old bagel store cashier refuses to shovel snow for demanding boss: 'I'm not going to do that... for $15 an hour'

06
Advertisement