There's nothing stopping you from talking to other employees about salaries. It's a myth that is propagated by companies in order to keep you in the dark about what they are paying other people, to deprive you of information, and to keep you at a disadvantage in any negotiation.
Also, it is very much a western thing. I have a lot of Indian friends and they happily trade salary information amongst each other. This reduces any informational asymmetry that exists in such situations.
It's not a taboo thing. In my contracts I've had always clause that all the information are confidential, including salary amount. And I can be sued by company if I break the agreement.
How can such a thing be legally binding. Did you tell your wife? Can they sue for that? What if you're not married to your partner? Your bank and every person who has seen your bank statement (a lot of people) knows what you're earning. Can they sue for that?
It's allowed to say that to your spouse. I think the regulation is just to prevent from publishing on web page or sending email with your real documents. If there is leak from the bank, the bank is responsible. In practice you talk about your salaries but in unofficial way, with a beer in a pub, but you never show the official contract.
The other interesting thing is clause about installing not approved application on your laptop. Everybody does it - your favourite editor, messenger, file manager etc. But when they want to fire you, they say that you've broken the rule and you're going to be sued unless you agree to leave company immediately without any punishment.
It's not just a myth, it can make people jealous of each other or cause a variety of tensions. I don't talk to my friends who work for charities about how much I earn, nor do I want to talk to the couple of people I know who are in finance about what they bring in.
Of course it also helps the company get an unfair advantage in negotiations, but it does have a social purpose too.
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I've always felt uncomfortable about how employees are not supposed to talk to each other about their salaries.
To me, it reeks of manipulation feels just like saying to a child "Here's some candy, but you have to promise not to tell anyone I gave it to you, OK"
ugh.
There's nothing stopping you from talking to other employees about salaries. It's a myth that is propagated by companies in order to keep you in the dark about what they are paying other people, to deprive you of information, and to keep you at a disadvantage in any negotiation.
Also, it is very much a western thing. I have a lot of Indian friends and they happily trade salary information amongst each other. This reduces any informational asymmetry that exists in such situations.
I don't know if it's only a western thing. I'm in Eastern Europe and we still consider this subject a taboo (at least in IT).
edit: To be more clear, you can talk about it with friends but not with your colleagues.
It's not a taboo thing. In my contracts I've had always clause that all the information are confidential, including salary amount. And I can be sued by company if I break the agreement.
How can such a thing be legally binding. Did you tell your wife? Can they sue for that? What if you're not married to your partner? Your bank and every person who has seen your bank statement (a lot of people) knows what you're earning. Can they sue for that?
It's allowed to say that to your spouse. I think the regulation is just to prevent from publishing on web page or sending email with your real documents. If there is leak from the bank, the bank is responsible. In practice you talk about your salaries but in unofficial way, with a beer in a pub, but you never show the official contract.
The other interesting thing is clause about installing not approved application on your laptop. Everybody does it - your favourite editor, messenger, file manager etc. But when they want to fire you, they say that you've broken the rule and you're going to be sued unless you agree to leave company immediately without any punishment.
It varies by country/culture. In some cultures people are just terribly insecure and think that their salary defines their worth.
It's not just a myth, it can make people jealous of each other or cause a variety of tensions. I don't talk to my friends who work for charities about how much I earn, nor do I want to talk to the couple of people I know who are in finance about what they bring in.
Of course it also helps the company get an unfair advantage in negotiations, but it does have a social purpose too.
Nearly every contract I've had (in Australia) prohibits discussion of the salary. Not sure on enforceability.
I expect serious repercussions if I was to do so.