The Oct. 17 issue of SAF’s Wednesday E-Brief discussed the problem of gossip in the workplace, and methods to counteract it. In response to one florist’s comment that talking salary at her shop is prohibited, reader Paul Brockway of Conklyn’s Florist in Alexandria, Va., questioned the legality of taking action against an employee for discussing wages and suggested that E-Brief editors “mention the potential pitfalls of such a policy.”

Brockway was on to something. According to the National Labor Relations Act, all employees have the right to engage in “concerted activity for mutual aid and protection.” According to experts at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), this means that employers can encourage discretion with wage information, but they are discouraged from taking any disciplinary action against employees who divulge their wages to other employees.

SHRM points to the following articles from various sources, which include useful information regarding discussing wages in the workplace:

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Not a Legal Policy for Employee Discussion

The National Labor Relations Act: Not Just for Unionized Employees

Pay Policies Cannot Prohibit Wage Discussions

Shhh, They’re Talking Salary

Keeping Pay Details Away from Friends

Previous Article    Next Article