Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2002 16:06:24 -0600
From: Dan Lester <dan@riverofdata.com>
Subject: Re[2]: Salary information in job ads

However, in the seven states where I've worked in public academic
libraries, the salaries have always been public information.  You may
have to go to the library reserve desk, to the public information
office, or elsewhere, but the information is public.  Personally, I've
never looked up what others make.  I don't care.  But I know many do
so, and occasionally I've heard complaints about "Mary makes more than
Sam, but he's a much better worker" and so forth.  Hey, if I looked
them up, I might feel the same way.  But why get in a tizzy over
something I can't do anything about?

I know that in much of the corporate world and in many private
academic institutions the salaries are not disclosed.  In fact, in
some companies, disclosing your salary to a colleague is grounds for
reprimand or dismissal.

cheers

dan

Friday, August 30, 2002, 9:23:04 AM, you wrote:

QT> In my opinion , the salary issue is culture related.
QT> People in the US pay much attention to their privacy. They don't
talk about their
QT> salaries with each other in the workplace, or even in their own
families. People who work
QT> together and do the same job usually don't get paid the same salary,
depending on
QT> experience, seniority, etc. The employers don't want their employees
know what everyone
QT> else is making, both in public sector, and more seriously in private
sector. Otherwise
QT> there will be lots of unhappy people in the workplace.

--
Dan Lester, Data Wrangler  dan@RiverOfData.com 208-283-7711
3577 East Pecan, Boise, Idaho  83716-7115 USA
www.riverofdata.com  www.gailndan.com  Stop Global Whining!