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Survey of workers’ views on salary transparency

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Re: Survey of workers’ views on salary transparency

#202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you keep repeating yourself without providing any sources. here is a quote from scholarly article on the topic that counters what you are saying. Pay attention to the final sentence Yugoslavia’s blue-collar workers were less likely to receive a socially owned flat than white-collar and skilled workers who were systemically favoured in the allocation process (Živković 1968; Bobić and Vujović 1985; Petrović 2004; Le No…

> were acquired without incurring personal costs, while in terms of their use, inheritance and even trading there were practically no differences between the holders of tenancy rights to state/socially owned housing and private owners’ (Petrović 2004, 270). I have no idea where the author got this... this was maybe(!) true for very high ranking party members, but for normal people, there was no inheritance and tradin…

so i know also from personal experience that inheritance existed. when my grandfather (certainly not some high ranking party member) passed away in the mid 80s the rights to the apartment went to my grandmother. she was in retirement at the time. my uncle also lived with her at the time. he was a university student. besides having this social apartment my grandfather and my grandmother also built a house in a village near by. when the system collapsed and after the war there was a buy program similar to what you describe and she was able to purchase the apartment

Re: Survey of workers’ views on salary transparency

#203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I hate dealing with this aspect of my job. Everybody just wants wants wants and act like children when they don't get. I go to work everyday for one reason: to exchange labor for money to support my addiction to food and shelter. All three things being nearly equal, my goal is to extract as much money for my labor as possible as long as my job choice doesn’t make me hate my life

I find it kind of sad that's all you get out of your job to be honest.

What else do you think your job gets out of you besides an extraction of value for your labor?

Please tell me you don’t believe the bullshit of a “mission” from a for profit company or that “we are family”.

Re: Survey of workers’ views on salary transparency

#204

I'm getting really old cause I am starting to see this from both sides If you found out your cube neighbor is out-earning you and you do the same work, you (probably) are safer when the next wave of layoffs comes around. That little disparity can feel like a giant shield. This is the most anti-worker thing I have ever typed. I hate myself for sharing how I rationalize this.

The shield is illusory. Money in the bank is not.

If you earn more, spend the same and keep the difference in a rainy day fund overall you'll be better off.

Re: Survey of workers’ views on salary transparency

#205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is all a distinction without a difference. Salaries follow the labor market, which follows the cost of living. The cost of living is different in different places, because of differences in the labor market (demand side) or because of geographical reasons (supply side).

It's not, because "location-based" pay will change if the market price of labour at that location changes. Location is a proxy variable; a distinction which makes all the difference, see for example, Detroit

Right, okay. That makes more sense now. Thanks!

Re: Survey of workers’ views on salary transparency

#206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you ever ask for a raise or more money? If so did they ever say no? In my experience many who complain about salary often failed to ever try and negotiate on behalf of themselves.

There is an element of failure to negotiate, and to renegotiate, involved but if that's where your thinking stops you're missing the point. It's not just that the person involved didn't ask for a raise. It's also the fact that everyone above them who was privy to salary data accepted it. Every single person in a higher management role was perfectly OK with two people doing the same job being paid significantly differ…

I respectfully disagree. There is no "inherent" fairness for salary in my experience (older in my mid 40's). For example if you feel you are underpaid and deserve 15K more per year... make your case. If you have a reasonable case to be made (others make this for salary for the same job ... or I am worth it because) then make it. If they don't offer anything then perhaps you do work for a crappy company and should consider another job.

However the idea that everyone should be paid the same for the same position is just not how the world works.

Here is a personal example. Long time ago I worked at a bank.. I did simple teller operations and some loan document processing. My co-worker did the same job. However when it came to number of transactions processed and number of loan documents processed I literally was twice as productive. So should we be paid the same since its technically the same position? Or do I have a valid case to be made that I am worth more? Would my coworker have a valid reason to be upset that I make more?

Another example in my IT career, In general I get things done quickly and am easy to work with. There are people in this profession that sometimes lack social skills and can just be difficult to work with. Is my ability to easily work with others and get things done quicker (technical skill and people skills) worth more to my employer than say someone in my same "position" who is hard to work with..add hurdles to get things done... etc.

Re: Survey of workers’ views on salary transparency

#207

I'm getting really old cause I am starting to see this from both sides If you found out your cube neighbor is out-earning you and you do the same work, you (probably) are safer when the next wave of layoffs comes around. That little disparity can feel like a giant shield. This is the most anti-worker thing I have ever typed. I hate myself for sharing how I rationalize this.

The caveat here is you want to be highly valued. If low pay alone is an advantage, the company is in big trouble.

Re: Survey of workers’ views on salary transparency

#208
post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Military in my experience is ruthlessly about self preservation - which is not in my opinion about loyalty, but about survival career wise and on the battlefield.

> Military in my experience... What sort of experience do you have with the military? As someone who has served in the U.S. military, loyalty is absolutely drilled into you; it's integral to battle readiness, which is ultimately the military's goal. They instill the value of loyalty as far as it serves to make soldiers that are willing to fight and die for each other and for their country. That doesn't extend to any…

Loyalty would not require enlistment contracts that generally last eight years as an active duty member, a reservist, or individual ready reservist — which if broken might result in jail time. Just imagine how “loyal” employees, marriages, etc would be if there only choice was to sign similar contracts.

As for the battlefield, there is not duty to country, only those you’re in direct line of command with. Better hope they never break the law, since if they do, you report them, you will end up dead if you’re in active combat.

The “drilling” you referred to is more comparable to brain washing than loyalty bound to reasoning.

Yes, loyalty is an idle frequently never found, but to call someone loyal because they signed a contract or because they know what will happen if the report those willfully breaking the law, to me is not loyalty.

In US, military within recent past had to literally and repeatedly remind all the military that their duty was to the country, not an idealogy or person — which would not have been done if the military truly was loyal, trusted itself, etc.

Re: Survey of workers’ views on salary transparency

#209

It's not easy for people promoted into manager roles either. I'm a new manager who the first time is now exposed to salary details of my, now direct reports, former co-workers. For the past couple of weeks I've been walking around thinking "how the hell does he make that much?! When I was at that level of experience I was paid $40k less". It's really affecting me to be honest. I'm seeing people in different light and…

The best managers I've ever had have always felt like they were genuine advocates for me towards the rest of the business. To push to pay me more, promote me, and share my concerns and other thoughts to the rest of the company. It doesn't sound like you're a great advocate for your reports.

This should be a two way advocacy. Advocate for the employees to the company. Advocate for the company to the employees. When they align in the middle they'll both succeed.

Re: Survey of workers’ views on salary transparency

#210
I love the salary transparency. Realized I was underpaid/underleveled and increased my salary over 60% in a year. It was a brutal grind but now I’m a good place. I see other job postings and know I’m being paid fairly, so I don’t worry about it.
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