Would you answer?

[wordsmythe]

A friend and I were talking about his upcoming job change and move when he told me that one of the people where he works asked him how much he makes. Well the guy who asked has been there DECADES and my friend had only been there a couple of years.

It seems he make a LOT more than the guy who is staying and that guy was PISSED. Explaining that he had a Master's degree and worked in a highly specialized area seemed to have no calming properties on this guy. He's a purchasing agent and has been for a long time.

Anyway our conversations went like this...
Me: he asked you what they paid you?
Me: And you actually answered?
Him: yep. why not.
Him: told him i started at 26 and now make just shy of 34.
Me: because is sows the seeds of discontent
Him: FU**EM
Me: I thought they treated you pretty good.
Him: they do. i blame him, because he put me on the spot.
Me: I'd never answer that question
Me: If I ever owned a business asking someone else what they make would be something you'd get written up for. Answering would be grounds for termination.
Him: good thing i don't work for you ya f**king nazi.
Me: Indeed you'd be out on your ass.
Him: yep.

Anyway... Am I the only one who thinks talking about what you make at work is a bad idea?

Or am I just letting my Right Wing tendancies peek out?

[TexKan]

It's a bad idea for both parties. Sounds like your friend is a liberal that blames everyone else (like the dumb other employee) for his indiscretion. They were both bein jack asses and the company probably has much better employees than either one of them. If I owned a company and knew about that conversation - I would have given the cocky guy (the idiot that answered the dumb question) a box to pack his stuff early. It's never too late loose your job - even when you have resigned. The other idiot just explained probably why he doesn't make what he feels he should. It's cause he doesn't get the picture and he's probably just the loyal worker who never is gonna make what he really worth cause he's to busy bein loyal and dumb.

[Made in the USA]

A buck and a half an hour---------------
And I don't get any free lunches either-------

[TexKan]

Originally Posted by Made in the USA

A buck and a half an hour---------------
And I don't get any free lunches either-------

LOL LOL - I'm with you!! Hell do we get money for this???????

[Detector]

I'd agree. Asking how much a fellow worker makes is not a good idea, and answering them is even worse.

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by wordsmythe

...Him: told him i started at 26 and now make just shy of 34.[/b]...

Is that $26/hr and $34/hr or is that $26000/yr and $34000/yr??? I would hope that it would be per hour. 26K per year wouldn't go very far! Especially for somebody with a Master's and no doubt plenty of student loans to repay.

[wordsmythe]

Originally Posted by Bubba

Is that $26/hr and $34/hr or is that $26000/yr and $34000/yr??? I would hope that it would be per hour. 26K per year wouldn't go very far! Especially for somebody with a Master's and no doubt plenty of student loans to repay.

It's in a small town and kept him in motorcycle parts but that's one of the things that's got him moving.

[K C Muffin]

Bad biz. Both for the guy asking and the guy answering. Indeed, grounds for termination. If the guy asking had any sense, he would have already done at least internet searches to find median pay for his job title. And then go from there. What somebody else makes for the job really doesn't have anything to do with what I will make on the job. I'da kicked 'em both out on their keasters!

[wordsmythe]

Let me make this a little clearer Muffin. These two people are in COMPLETELY different jobs. The lower paid guy is a "puchasing" agent and the other guy, my friend who is leaving, does the company's graphic design, photography, public relations, advertising and hangs the vinyl on all the company vehicles.

[TexKan]

It seems for the most part - those of us that responded feel BOTH were in the wrong - has nothing to do with who does what at the business.