Pay Equity: Should You Know What Your Coworkers Get Paid?

Pay equity is a sensitive topic in today’s workplace. The first rule of thumb everyone learns when they join the workforce…never ask what someone gets paid and never discuss what you are being paid. It is supposed to be the most tightly held secret in an organization. If you ask someone in leadership, management or HR, they will tell you those discussions don’t happen and they severely punish those who violate the policy. Let them overhear a discussion on pay rates between staff and alarm bells will sound across the organization. Why should pay equity and pay rates be such a tightly held secret?

In this TED Talk, David Burkus discusses the secrecy of pay rates and why they should disappear. Burkus is an author, podcaster and associate professor of management at Oral Roberts University. His latest book, Under New Management, challenges traditional principles of business management and argues that many of them are outdated, outmoded or simply don’t work — and reveals what does. He is also the author of The Myths of Creativity: The Truth About How Innovative Companies and People Generate Great Ideas.

Check out this inspiring TED Talk: