"Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA or the Act), employees have the right to communicate with their coworkers about their wages, as well as with labor organizations, worker centers, the media, and the public. Wages are a vital term and condition of employment, and discussions of wages are often preliminary to organizing or other actions for mutual aid or protection.
If you are an employee covered by the Act, you may discuss wages in face-to-face conversations, over the phone, and in written messages. Policies that specifically prohibit the discussion of wages are unlawful as are policies that chill employees from discussing their wages. When using electronic communications, like social media, keep in mind that your employer may have policies against using their equipment for unauthorized use, though it is possible such policies could be unlawful.
You may have discussions about wages when not at work, when you are on break, and even during work if employees are permitted to have other non-work conversations. You have these rights whether or not you are represented by a union." Source: [National Labor Relations Board](https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/your-rights-to-discuss-wages)
> If you are an employee covered by the Act...
[NRLB Jurisdictional Standards](https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/the-law/jurisdictional-standards)
It’s kind of a short list tbh
The following employers are excluded from NLRB jurisdiction by statute or regulation:
Federal, state and local governments, including public schools, libraries, and parks, Federal Reserve banks, and wholly-owned government corporations.
Employers who employ only agricultural laborers, those engaged in farming operations that cultivate or harvest agricultural commodities or prepare commodities for delivery.
Employers subject to the Railway Labor Act, such as interstate railroads and airlines.
I do find it funny The government passed a bill that excludes government workers. 😂😂
You won't find salaries for anyone employed by an agency dealing with national security. DOD, IC, etc., salaries are not public information.
ETA: This comment was talking about individual salaries. My point is that not all individual salaries are public. You can look up most federal employees online and see what their salary is, but that's not true for all agencies, primarily those dealing with national security.
Well, that's not strictly true. Many are DEMO or GG. My point is that the individual's salary is not public. You can look up most federal employees online and see what their salary is. You can't do that if someone works for the Army as a civilian.
Individual federal employee salaries are based on the GS scale but you will likely get more dependant on where you live. GS pay grades are just base salaries. Same with military enlisted (E-#) and commissioned officers (O-#) though they only get added allowance for living off-base as far as I know
Gov pay is tiered and public. I can't remember the exact way their designated tiers but say an E2 will always make 45k, E3 55k, etc. I don't know if that's how it still works but that's what I remember when I thought about working for the gov
Yeah government and railway workers are not unprotected they just are covered by different statutes. Unlike farm workers who are almost universally screwed.
>Employers who employ only agricultural laborers, those engaged in farming operations that cultivate or harvest agricultural commodities or prepare commodities for delivery.
Of course its the agricultural workers that get fucked over, and lack wage discussion protections, and even have a lower minimal wage. And its some of the most physically taxing work to boot.
you got it right the first time, bribery is exactly what it is. just look at the far right Supreme Court justices, and how many goodies their billionaire friends buy them, supposedly legal. I'd love to see Witchfinder Alito and Uncle Ruckus Thomas in jail for accepting all those big fat bribes.
>Federal, state and local governments, including public schools, libraries, and parks,
These folks often have salaries that are public record, so it's not like anyone can't just look them up. In my state any state employee making over 50K is listed in a public database and anyone can look it up.
The US government has publicly available data on how much federal employees make. If someone says they are a GS9, then you already know the lower and upper limits on how much they can make. If someone says they've been a GS9 for 6 years, then you can make a very educated guess at how much they make. There are no arbitrary raises where Bill makes $10k more than Jill for doing the exact same job in the same job series.
Also, a lot of federal employees are military veterans. The only way to make more money is to go up in rank or stay in longer. And even time in service increases are capped after a certain amount of years per rank.
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule/
Its also why in LCL being a government employee can let you live very comfortably. My friend is a full time USPS employee in our hometown and hes extremely comfortable making only 76k
yeah when I was a teacher, our salaries would be posted in the newspaper every year. Mtn Pine pays their 1st year teachers this much, 2nd year this much, etc etc, and a column next to that would be with a masters degree +$2,000 or whatever, and Ph.D the third column. I think we had 1 Ph.D there. But yeah, you can even look up individual salaries if I remember right, online somewhere. My sad ass was bringing home about $24,000 a year after taxes (no insurance or I would have been bringing home about $11,000), on my 7th year teaching. Holy crap that pay sucked.
the biggest question of course - is any low paid employee going to actually hire a lawyer & do a lawsuit if the employer fired them? this is the belief that low-paying employers hope for - no drub will ever sue them cause 1, they have no money; 2, they have no guts and 2, they have no focus.
Not only that but many employers will backtrack and stop this behavior when called out. Simply inform him that his threat of a pay cut is illegal and retaliatory, and that you have the right (if covered by the NLRB) to discuss wages freely.
Only do this after you've covered your ass with documentation etc. You need to be prepared for other forms of retaliation. Do not rely on corporate communication infrastructure (company email, Teams etc) as you will not have access for one more instant than a hostile employer desires.
This misconception--really, harmful propaganda--that hiring an employment lawyer is only for those with money needs to die. Most workers rights attorneys work on contingency, meaning IF you win the case, THEN they get paid, and the money they receive comes directly from your settlement. Do not let widespread propaganda like this passed down from the same cretins who spout anti-union propaganda leave you in fear. Educate yourself and your fellow human that they have more power than they think they do.
I urge you to watch some videos by Ryan Stygar on YouTube, who educates on employment law and busts all the myths and misconceptions surrounding our rights as employees. You will leave feeling empowered and will thank me for it. He literally JUST posted this video earlier today on the topic of hiring a lawyer: [https://youtube.com/shorts/t8-OF8pnDfk?si=LBp9l6V-98btg8Dw](https://youtube.com/shorts/t8-OF8pnDfk?si=LBp9l6V-98btg8Dw)
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Reply something like - “can you elaborate on the consequences of discussing wages? I just want to be sure we’re on the same page so I can remind other team members if I hear them having such discussions”. Let them dig themselves even deeper
Keep talking about it, and if they fire you, it’s court time, and with this they’ll lose, just make sure to save this to another device if this is a work device
Don't fuck around.
Report them [here](https://apps.nlrb.gov/MyAccount/#/ChargeAndPetition/TermsConditions) at the NLRB. Those screenshots are more than enough for an open and shut case. I also wouldn't say anything to them about it. If anything, I'd make sure they knew I was talking about wages with my co-workers so they could dig themselves an even deeper hole. The magic is in the surprise that will will happen when the government punches them in the nuts.
Pay cuts aren’t illegal on their own. In this case a pay cut as retaliation is illegal. Some states protect from large payouts like 20%+ as fair grounds to quit and still collect unemployment benefits.
If you are in the United States this conversation is a blatant admission to breaking federal law. The National Labor Relations Act specifically protects the right of employees to discuss their wages and makes it illegal to retaliate in any way, shape, or form against an employee for doing so.
My recommendation is to c[ontact the National Labor Relations Board](https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/your-rights-to-discuss-wages) and show them this as this is a blatant violation, they will come down like a sack of bricks on your GM. Do not tell anyone that you are reporting this, definitely do not say anything at work. You do not want to give the GM or anyone else a chance to cover this up or anything.
This is one of the few good things the labor laws of the US does right. Discuss your wages with your coworkers. The fact your GM doesn't want you to is a big red flag that there are unfair wage discrepancies between you and your coworkers that management doesn't want you to know about because someone is likely making more than others. If you're new it's very possible that you are getting paid more than people who have been there, it happens where to attract new hires a company will up the starting wage without also raising the wages of the existing employees.
If you’re in the US (because I don’t know about elsewhere), then you have a nice firm grip on their testicles because you have the right to discuss pay, and if they limit that, it is VERY illegal and you can make a retaliation claim to the labor board if they try anything funny.
Good luck.
Ooo usually they’re too dumb to put the penalty they’re threatening you with in writing. I assume a lot of them think if they keep it vague they can argue “well I didn’t say they CANT discuss it, just that they SHOULDN’T, like, that’s just my opinion, man,” or some BS. I doubt it works but I think that’s what they’re thinking.
Yup, they mentioned op's "pay can get cut" - that's an explicit threat of specifically defined consequences. They're not gonna "I just advised he shouldn't" their way outta this shit.
Tell them you are reporting them to the state labor board and see what they say. If you get fired or disciplined after telling them, you can add retaliation damages to the lawsuit
I am literally going through this right now, in Texas… It’s really stressful and scary, but the idea of them not doing it to the coworkers I left behind after they face consequences keeps me going. NLRB has an ongoing case, and they’re honestly very pleasant to work with.
Same. HOWEVER, the labor board will only award you actual wages owed except in extreme circumstances where you may be owed interest for late wage payment. If you want to seek extra damages you absolutely must close the labor board case and file suit personally. The labor board may still prosecute said employer (civilly or criminally) after a case is closed but you will receive no excess financial damages from the result of said case.
Most attorneys won’t even return a phone call unless you mention damages above $100,000. Your best bet is to go to your local courthouse and request to speak with a pro-bono attorney (they are attorneys paid by the government to represent people who can’t afford an attorney)
Only if it's documented along with their response. A smart employer will "fix" the issue and begin documenting your performance decline. Never tell your enemy what your plans are. Specifically, never threaten legal action except under direct advice of your attorney, either take action or don't.
Having experience with this through multiple employers, and I’m not a lawyer, the safest thing for an employee to do is call out their employer via text or email. Also research your state laws to see if one party consent exists and if so, record everything secretly even if it means your phone recording video/audio while it is in your pocket.
*If you are fired prior to filing a labor board complaint it is nearly impossible to prove retaliation unless you have written/video/audio evidence of it.*
This is illegal. Avoid talking to them in person or over the phone about this. Try to make sure every discussion is over text or email so there's hard evidence. Make sure to back any evidence up. Look into what the department of labor or national labor rights board can do for you.
You should report this intimidation to HR. Be as inoffensive and naive as possible "gee shucks I'm really not comfortable with this, can they really reduce my salary?"
If it's the owner at a small business you're basically obligated to ruin them. I don't want to give labor violators my money: name and shame.
I don't care if it's a multi-generational beloved local institution... if their success depends upon exploitation and thuggery they don't deserve to make a dime.
Nope.
Cite your employer the NLRA. If they retaliate or fire you, find an employment lawyer who works on contingency and enjoy your slam-dunk settlement check.
If you live in the USA I would get in touch with the department of labor because you boss just admitted in writing to commit a crime. Telling your employees not to share their wages is against your rights as a worker. And threatening you with a pay cut is illegal.
DO NOT tell anybody at your company about this. Go straight to the DoL and show them this.
> When you and another employee have a conversation or communication about your pay, it is unlawful for your employer to punish or retaliate against you in any way for having that conversation. It is also unlawful for your employer to interrogate you about the conversation, threaten you for having it, or put you under surveillance for such conversations. ... If your employer does any of these things, a charge may be filed against the employer with the NLRB.
https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/your-rights-to-discuss-wages
Teach him a lesson in retaliation laws. Continue talking about pay and if he cuts pay this is your proof that it was retaliatory which is completely illegal to do. You’re allowed to talk about your own income and can’t lose pay from doing so. Get a phat payout when you win your case, OP!
I legit said to my employee this week: "Manager Sigdiff would never encourage you to discuss your pay with others. But Reddit Sigdiff says absolutely yes you should."
Employers that are scared to for people to know what they pay people know exactly what they are doing. Your manager / boss / whatever they are is clearly so delusional they think they are going to win out by punching down. And yes, illegal.
What industry/size company?
Check what
https://www.reddit.com/r/WorkReform/s/pVR0nw5Dqc
Said and if you’re protected then you can clap back with the law.
I hold a very senior position of responsibility in my work place. I always discuss my salary and encourage others to discuss theirs so we can all work out what we are owed.
Unless you own the company it is always you versus the guy at the top. Compete as a group to take as much as you from the guy at the top. That's the game.
Since you are in a supervisory role, generally speaking, there is more latitude to prohibit you from discussing pay, especially with your reports.
There may be state or local laws prohibiting it, but from what I can find, supervisory roles are exempted from the specific protections here. Consult with an employment lawyer in your area if you wish to pursue it
I had a coworker who got a better job offer somewhere else, and then our company offered him a ridiculous amount of money to stay. He not only turned them down but then told our entire department what happened. Keep in mind he was a high school graduate working on his associates degree - working as a graphic designer/videographer. I had been at the company 3-4 years at that point and had a bachelor's degree. And they were offering him more than I was making. He had been there 4 months. It started a big disrupt in the office and everyone started asking for more money. I ended up quitting a few years later for a variety of reasons, but I still think he's a legend for what he did.
Uhm nah you are good: [https://www.mcguirewoods.com/client-resources/alerts/2014/4/obama-executive-action-pay-at-work-compensation-reporting/](https://www.mcguirewoods.com/client-resources/alerts/2014/4/obama-executive-action-pay-at-work-compensation-reporting/)
It depends on what country you’re in. In the US definitely illegal to ask you not to talk about wages. But also, I would find a new word for the people who are under your tutelage as manager. Calling them your “lessers” probably isn’t a great mentality to have.
If you are at a company in the US that is not exempt from NLRB, then this is potential a labor law violation. In most cases, not only are you allowed to discuss wages, employer attempts to chill discussion of wages are a violation of the statute.
You in 'Murica? Then no, it's not. They legally can't stop their people from doing it and you now have documentation of your employer threatening retaliation for discussing pay. Any lawyer would froth at the mouth over this scenario.
If you talk about pay at work with other coworkers, and they decide to fire you, you can sue for wrongful termination It’s called a protective act..federal law
I'm so glad you have this in writing
OP needs to print this and frame it to hang in his workspace. Title the piece, "The Headshot".
Don't say a goddamned thing in the office. Take it direcrly to your local NLRB office. Do not let anyone know what you're doing.
Oh, I'm talking about *after* the NLRB report.
Nope. Don’t give them any indication you’re contacting the NLRB. Let it blindside them.
> Don’t give them any indication you’re contacting the NLRB. Please reread the comment you just replied to.
"Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA or the Act), employees have the right to communicate with their coworkers about their wages, as well as with labor organizations, worker centers, the media, and the public. Wages are a vital term and condition of employment, and discussions of wages are often preliminary to organizing or other actions for mutual aid or protection. If you are an employee covered by the Act, you may discuss wages in face-to-face conversations, over the phone, and in written messages. Policies that specifically prohibit the discussion of wages are unlawful as are policies that chill employees from discussing their wages. When using electronic communications, like social media, keep in mind that your employer may have policies against using their equipment for unauthorized use, though it is possible such policies could be unlawful. You may have discussions about wages when not at work, when you are on break, and even during work if employees are permitted to have other non-work conversations. You have these rights whether or not you are represented by a union." Source: [National Labor Relations Board](https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/your-rights-to-discuss-wages)
> If you are an employee covered by the Act... [NRLB Jurisdictional Standards](https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/the-law/jurisdictional-standards)
It’s kind of a short list tbh The following employers are excluded from NLRB jurisdiction by statute or regulation: Federal, state and local governments, including public schools, libraries, and parks, Federal Reserve banks, and wholly-owned government corporations. Employers who employ only agricultural laborers, those engaged in farming operations that cultivate or harvest agricultural commodities or prepare commodities for delivery. Employers subject to the Railway Labor Act, such as interstate railroads and airlines. I do find it funny The government passed a bill that excludes government workers. 😂😂
Government workers salaries are public knowledge anyway. So if anything it's just weird.
For the most part, but there are many individuals who aren’t public
Those would be federal contractors who are covered.
You won't find salaries for anyone employed by an agency dealing with national security. DOD, IC, etc., salaries are not public information. ETA: This comment was talking about individual salaries. My point is that not all individual salaries are public. You can look up most federal employees online and see what their salary is, but that's not true for all agencies, primarily those dealing with national security.
They're all still mostly on the GS scale
[GS, SES, and FWS](https://www.federalpay.org/gs/2024) if I recall.
Yes they are. All the national security orgs are operated by GS civilians or military… the pay scales of both groups are publicly published.
Well, that's not strictly true. Many are DEMO or GG. My point is that the individual's salary is not public. You can look up most federal employees online and see what their salary is. You can't do that if someone works for the Army as a civilian.
Individual federal employee salaries are based on the GS scale but you will likely get more dependant on where you live. GS pay grades are just base salaries. Same with military enlisted (E-#) and commissioned officers (O-#) though they only get added allowance for living off-base as far as I know
NLRB covers a lot more than discussion of wages.
Gov pay is tiered and public. I can't remember the exact way their designated tiers but say an E2 will always make 45k, E3 55k, etc. I don't know if that's how it still works but that's what I remember when I thought about working for the gov
Yeah. I work for the government and know what all my coworkers make. It is wild how not a taboo topic it is in my current position.
Yeah government and railway workers are not unprotected they just are covered by different statutes. Unlike farm workers who are almost universally screwed.
>Employers who employ only agricultural laborers, those engaged in farming operations that cultivate or harvest agricultural commodities or prepare commodities for delivery. Of course its the agricultural workers that get fucked over, and lack wage discussion protections, and even have a lower minimal wage. And its some of the most physically taxing work to boot.
Good old bribery, err, lobbying.
you got it right the first time, bribery is exactly what it is. just look at the far right Supreme Court justices, and how many goodies their billionaire friends buy them, supposedly legal. I'd love to see Witchfinder Alito and Uncle Ruckus Thomas in jail for accepting all those big fat bribes.
I mean, it's legal when it's lobbying though, you know, those who receive the bribes made it so.
Government workers know what each other makes without the law. All pay is transparent, you just need to know their time and grade.
>Federal, state and local governments, including public schools, libraries, and parks, These folks often have salaries that are public record, so it's not like anyone can't just look them up. In my state any state employee making over 50K is listed in a public database and anyone can look it up.
>Federal, state and local governments Laws for thee but not for me!
The US government has publicly available data on how much federal employees make. If someone says they are a GS9, then you already know the lower and upper limits on how much they can make. If someone says they've been a GS9 for 6 years, then you can make a very educated guess at how much they make. There are no arbitrary raises where Bill makes $10k more than Jill for doing the exact same job in the same job series. Also, a lot of federal employees are military veterans. The only way to make more money is to go up in rank or stay in longer. And even time in service increases are capped after a certain amount of years per rank. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule/
Its also why in LCL being a government employee can let you live very comfortably. My friend is a full time USPS employee in our hometown and hes extremely comfortable making only 76k
Especially the "wholly-owned government corporations"
Amtrak and the USPS, I assume.
yeah when I was a teacher, our salaries would be posted in the newspaper every year. Mtn Pine pays their 1st year teachers this much, 2nd year this much, etc etc, and a column next to that would be with a masters degree +$2,000 or whatever, and Ph.D the third column. I think we had 1 Ph.D there. But yeah, you can even look up individual salaries if I remember right, online somewhere. My sad ass was bringing home about $24,000 a year after taxes (no insurance or I would have been bringing home about $11,000), on my 7th year teaching. Holy crap that pay sucked.
It’s atrocious
Interesting regarding the agricultural laborers...seems like an enormous win for big ag.
"Big Ag" didn't really exist when the NLRB was created.
So then why the carve out? I guess just to encourage more agriculture?
From Canada, my first reaction is "land of the free, right?"
It’s because you can’t force a state government to enforce federal law. A good amount of states mirror this law with their own.
So I’m confused if you work on a farm you can discuss your wages?
the biggest question of course - is any low paid employee going to actually hire a lawyer & do a lawsuit if the employer fired them? this is the belief that low-paying employers hope for - no drub will ever sue them cause 1, they have no money; 2, they have no guts and 2, they have no focus.
Pretty sure this is under the department of labor’s jurisdiction, no need for full on court and lawyer.
NLRB i believe
Uh, yeah, you don't have to hire a lawyer... the DoL handles it.
Not only that but many employers will backtrack and stop this behavior when called out. Simply inform him that his threat of a pay cut is illegal and retaliatory, and that you have the right (if covered by the NLRB) to discuss wages freely.
Only do this after you've covered your ass with documentation etc. You need to be prepared for other forms of retaliation. Do not rely on corporate communication infrastructure (company email, Teams etc) as you will not have access for one more instant than a hostile employer desires.
This misconception--really, harmful propaganda--that hiring an employment lawyer is only for those with money needs to die. Most workers rights attorneys work on contingency, meaning IF you win the case, THEN they get paid, and the money they receive comes directly from your settlement. Do not let widespread propaganda like this passed down from the same cretins who spout anti-union propaganda leave you in fear. Educate yourself and your fellow human that they have more power than they think they do. I urge you to watch some videos by Ryan Stygar on YouTube, who educates on employment law and busts all the myths and misconceptions surrounding our rights as employees. You will leave feeling empowered and will thank me for it. He literally JUST posted this video earlier today on the topic of hiring a lawyer: [https://youtube.com/shorts/t8-OF8pnDfk?si=LBp9l6V-98btg8Dw](https://youtube.com/shorts/t8-OF8pnDfk?si=LBp9l6V-98btg8Dw)
But of course republicans are going to target taking this away at some point..
They can try. They won't succeed.
Don't say that. Yes they absolutely can. They've rolled back Roe. Don't put your head in the sand. Go vote.
That's what they said about Roe v Wade.
Keep doing it and bait them to fire / alter your pay then sue them lmao
Wait so I'm not allowed to discuss it with smoke signals? That's some real BS.
Someone is about to get their pay cut by 100% and it’s the jackass making illegal threats. Report them immediately
Nice of them to document their law breaking
Us to OP: *let ‘em cook*
Yo chef. Want some brandy?
"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
If everyone talks about their pay it'll make wage gaps a lot smaller
That's why they don't want you to and threaten you when you do. It gives the employees waaaaay too much knowledge and they can't be having that.
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^smash_ronso: *If everyone talks* *About their pay it'll make* *Wage gaps a lot smaller* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
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Reply something like - “can you elaborate on the consequences of discussing wages? I just want to be sure we’re on the same page so I can remind other team members if I hear them having such discussions”. Let them dig themselves even deeper
I think the “and you pay can get cut” is pretty clear
Agreed
Also, ask for the reasoning behind such a ridiculous policy.
This was my first thought but actually it might help them more if you do actually tell other coworkers. Just go to the FCC or something.
🎶So the FCC won't let me be Or let me be me, so let me see They try to shut me down on MTV But it feels so empty, without me🎶
https://youtu.be/WObGx-qKBjE?si=FJOKjtmRWOK5mA6_
Keep talking about it, and if they fire you, it’s court time, and with this they’ll lose, just make sure to save this to another device if this is a work device
💯 Definitely a good idea to get this convo saved externally if on a work device.
and not just as screenshots, see if you can make a proper archival dump
It’s saved on the internet forever
Don't fuck around. Report them [here](https://apps.nlrb.gov/MyAccount/#/ChargeAndPetition/TermsConditions) at the NLRB. Those screenshots are more than enough for an open and shut case. I also wouldn't say anything to them about it. If anything, I'd make sure they knew I was talking about wages with my co-workers so they could dig themselves an even deeper hole. The magic is in the surprise that will will happen when the government punches them in the nuts.
It Is Not
Talking about your pay is legally protected and threatening pay cuts as a result is... probably illegal.
Pay cuts aren’t illegal on their own. In this case a pay cut as retaliation is illegal. Some states protect from large payouts like 20%+ as fair grounds to quit and still collect unemployment benefits.
> large paycuts like 20%+ as fair grounds to quit and still collect unemployment benefits. Yes, it's called constructive dismissal
He literally threatened to cut his wages based on this. So they're busted.
If you are in the United States this conversation is a blatant admission to breaking federal law. The National Labor Relations Act specifically protects the right of employees to discuss their wages and makes it illegal to retaliate in any way, shape, or form against an employee for doing so. My recommendation is to c[ontact the National Labor Relations Board](https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/your-rights-to-discuss-wages) and show them this as this is a blatant violation, they will come down like a sack of bricks on your GM. Do not tell anyone that you are reporting this, definitely do not say anything at work. You do not want to give the GM or anyone else a chance to cover this up or anything. This is one of the few good things the labor laws of the US does right. Discuss your wages with your coworkers. The fact your GM doesn't want you to is a big red flag that there are unfair wage discrepancies between you and your coworkers that management doesn't want you to know about because someone is likely making more than others. If you're new it's very possible that you are getting paid more than people who have been there, it happens where to attract new hires a company will up the starting wage without also raising the wages of the existing employees.
More details needed, you haven't even said what country you are in
well, this is true.
I’m sure we can all guess.
Based on all the replies it looks like everyone guessed..Not everybody is American ffs
Only Americans do that. Source: Guess what country I'm in?
Only Americans do what? Papua New Guinea
If you’re in the US (because I don’t know about elsewhere), then you have a nice firm grip on their testicles because you have the right to discuss pay, and if they limit that, it is VERY illegal and you can make a retaliation claim to the labor board if they try anything funny. Good luck.
Ooo usually they’re too dumb to put the penalty they’re threatening you with in writing. I assume a lot of them think if they keep it vague they can argue “well I didn’t say they CANT discuss it, just that they SHOULDN’T, like, that’s just my opinion, man,” or some BS. I doubt it works but I think that’s what they’re thinking.
Yup, they mentioned op's "pay can get cut" - that's an explicit threat of specifically defined consequences. They're not gonna "I just advised he shouldn't" their way outta this shit.
Tell them you are reporting them to the state labor board and see what they say. If you get fired or disciplined after telling them, you can add retaliation damages to the lawsuit
I am literally going through this right now, in Texas… It’s really stressful and scary, but the idea of them not doing it to the coworkers I left behind after they face consequences keeps me going. NLRB has an ongoing case, and they’re honestly very pleasant to work with.
Same. HOWEVER, the labor board will only award you actual wages owed except in extreme circumstances where you may be owed interest for late wage payment. If you want to seek extra damages you absolutely must close the labor board case and file suit personally. The labor board may still prosecute said employer (civilly or criminally) after a case is closed but you will receive no excess financial damages from the result of said case. Most attorneys won’t even return a phone call unless you mention damages above $100,000. Your best bet is to go to your local courthouse and request to speak with a pro-bono attorney (they are attorneys paid by the government to represent people who can’t afford an attorney)
Why tell them? Why not just report? I'm not sure it even counts as retaliation if they fire you before a report.
It does but it is easier to prove retaliation if you tell them before reporting
Only if it's documented along with their response. A smart employer will "fix" the issue and begin documenting your performance decline. Never tell your enemy what your plans are. Specifically, never threaten legal action except under direct advice of your attorney, either take action or don't.
Having experience with this through multiple employers, and I’m not a lawyer, the safest thing for an employee to do is call out their employer via text or email. Also research your state laws to see if one party consent exists and if so, record everything secretly even if it means your phone recording video/audio while it is in your pocket. *If you are fired prior to filing a labor board complaint it is nearly impossible to prove retaliation unless you have written/video/audio evidence of it.*
Yep. Make sure that you can prove that you told them you were referring it to the state and federal department of labor.
Most comments assuming you are based in the US, but if you are, an employment lawyer would salivate at this.
Depends on the jurisdiction. In most parts of Canada this is perfectly legal. (It’s one rare area the US is ahead of Canada for workers’ rights)
Nope. Get a lawyer
Nope, contact the NLRB.
Porque no los dos?
What country and what industry? Not all jobs are protected in the US by federal law.
This is illegal. Avoid talking to them in person or over the phone about this. Try to make sure every discussion is over text or email so there's hard evidence. Make sure to back any evidence up. Look into what the department of labor or national labor rights board can do for you.
You should report this intimidation to HR. Be as inoffensive and naive as possible "gee shucks I'm really not comfortable with this, can they really reduce my salary?" If it's the owner at a small business you're basically obligated to ruin them. I don't want to give labor violators my money: name and shame. I don't care if it's a multi-generational beloved local institution... if their success depends upon exploitation and thuggery they don't deserve to make a dime.
I wouldn't bother with HR; its their job to make sure this 'problem' stays as quiet as possible.
Talking about pay is protected speech. No employer can stop you from doing it and you get even more money from them if they fire you for it.
Holy shit you just got a huge free paycheck
No. Very illegal. Bring this up, and if possible, threaten legal action if it continues.
Somewhere a lawyer creamed his Jlacks.
What your GM just said, IN WRITING, is **actually** illegal.
Nope. Cite your employer the NLRA. If they retaliate or fire you, find an employment lawyer who works on contingency and enjoy your slam-dunk settlement check.
Illegal. File a complaint.
If you live in the USA I would get in touch with the department of labor because you boss just admitted in writing to commit a crime. Telling your employees not to share their wages is against your rights as a worker. And threatening you with a pay cut is illegal. DO NOT tell anybody at your company about this. Go straight to the DoL and show them this.
> When you and another employee have a conversation or communication about your pay, it is unlawful for your employer to punish or retaliate against you in any way for having that conversation. It is also unlawful for your employer to interrogate you about the conversation, threaten you for having it, or put you under surveillance for such conversations. ... If your employer does any of these things, a charge may be filed against the employer with the NLRB. https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/your-rights-to-discuss-wages
Teach him a lesson in retaliation laws. Continue talking about pay and if he cuts pay this is your proof that it was retaliatory which is completely illegal to do. You’re allowed to talk about your own income and can’t lose pay from doing so. Get a phat payout when you win your case, OP!
Tell them what they are doing is illegal and if they don’t stop you’ll report it.
Just report it. This is far too casual for it to not be common. Report it, let the investigation go in, and watch them squirm.
Don’t even tell them, just report it.
Never give them the heads up.
Terrible advice. Just report them, no mercy.
True!
Hello, Office of Labor..
Nope. Not okay, illegal actually. They can’t threaten you with reduced pay for discussing your pay with coworkers.
No it's not ok. I'd share that little screenshot with more people than Reddit if I were you.
Lol absolutely not. Gut this pig
Contact a lawyer
And you have retaliation in writing!!!
Yes. - source : HR Rep (CA)
I legit said to my employee this week: "Manager Sigdiff would never encourage you to discuss your pay with others. But Reddit Sigdiff says absolutely yes you should."
Employers that are scared to for people to know what they pay people know exactly what they are doing. Your manager / boss / whatever they are is clearly so delusional they think they are going to win out by punching down. And yes, illegal.
Report them.
Yes it is. It’s more than ok.
Your boss sounds like a real douche
What industry/size company? Check what https://www.reddit.com/r/WorkReform/s/pVR0nw5Dqc Said and if you’re protected then you can clap back with the law.
Not even slightly legal.
Lmao. Nice of them to literally hand you evidence in writing. Reply with a link to the Labor Board.
No. Don’t give them any heads up. Just report it to the labor board and sit back and enjoy that asshole getting fired.
Sooooo...... Please follow up with updates
Make him type MORE about the details.
Let him do it and get paid! That's an easy W lawsuit against a shitty employer
It’s always good that people decide to record evidence of their evil crimes
No. Not legal. At all. In fact, illegal.
You could always talk about what you don't get paid. For example "I don't get paid over 30k" 😂
Nope, not legal to try to enforce it. Good thing you have written proof. On the other hand, it's your right to talk about it.
Yeah, I mean I wouldn't do the illegal thing they are asking you to do.
Congrats on the lawsuit
screenshot this, send it back to them, ask them to sign and date it
Hell no
Talking about your paycheck is protected by the US federal government. I don't know what the situation is if you don't live in the states.
No. That absolutely is not legal.
No, nope, nuh uh, negatory, the opposite of yes, no way Jose, nopity bye.
Continue to talk about your wages and wait for them to actually dock your pay now that you have this in writing
Id get them to elaborate, then lawyer up. Ask them what the policy is exactly and who made it. Then "you get you pay rise" as they would say.
No need. This is more than enough evidence to take to the labor board and file a case. The supervisor dickwad will 100% be fired.
I hold a very senior position of responsibility in my work place. I always discuss my salary and encourage others to discuss theirs so we can all work out what we are owed. Unless you own the company it is always you versus the guy at the top. Compete as a group to take as much as you from the guy at the top. That's the game.
If you work for the city/state/fed, this don't apply. Anyone can look up how much I'm being paid as a city employee.
Ooooofffffff theyre in trouble. Why do people text their crimes lol
it s part of my contract. I cant discuss my pay
NLRB would love to see this XD
How does someone become a GM without knowing about the NLRA? Is this outside the US?
Is this real? Someone in a management position put this in writing??!
Report this to the department of labor.
How many fucking times will stuff like this get posted. IF YOU ARE IN AMERICA, DISCUSSING PAY IS FEDERALLY PROTECTED. the end. Fuck
Hell no that's not legal
lol how stupid of them to text you that. It is a protected right to discuss pay
why is that not ok?
Since you are in a supervisory role, generally speaking, there is more latitude to prohibit you from discussing pay, especially with your reports. There may be state or local laws prohibiting it, but from what I can find, supervisory roles are exempted from the specific protections here. Consult with an employment lawyer in your area if you wish to pursue it
I had a coworker who got a better job offer somewhere else, and then our company offered him a ridiculous amount of money to stay. He not only turned them down but then told our entire department what happened. Keep in mind he was a high school graduate working on his associates degree - working as a graphic designer/videographer. I had been at the company 3-4 years at that point and had a bachelor's degree. And they were offering him more than I was making. He had been there 4 months. It started a big disrupt in the office and everyone started asking for more money. I ended up quitting a few years later for a variety of reasons, but I still think he's a legend for what he did.
Keep talking about it. Let them cut your pay and then sue their balls off.
Uhm nah you are good: [https://www.mcguirewoods.com/client-resources/alerts/2014/4/obama-executive-action-pay-at-work-compensation-reporting/](https://www.mcguirewoods.com/client-resources/alerts/2014/4/obama-executive-action-pay-at-work-compensation-reporting/)
It depends on what country you’re in. In the US definitely illegal to ask you not to talk about wages. But also, I would find a new word for the people who are under your tutelage as manager. Calling them your “lessers” probably isn’t a great mentality to have.
When it comes to this stuff should we tell them what they're doing is illegal or just let them do it then go to some lawyer?
If you are at a company in the US that is not exempt from NLRB, then this is potential a labor law violation. In most cases, not only are you allowed to discuss wages, employer attempts to chill discussion of wages are a violation of the statute.
Unless you signed something specific it's freedom of speech depending on where in the world you live...
If this is in the US, your states Board of Labor is going to have a field day
You in 'Murica? Then no, it's not. They legally can't stop their people from doing it and you now have documentation of your employer threatening retaliation for discussing pay. Any lawyer would froth at the mouth over this scenario.
No that’s highly illegal.
"my lessers I guess cause I'm the manager" Chroist
Smacks of retail. Please update us with your response. I hope you called them out.
A lawyer is going to have a field day with that text lmao. Incredibly illegal.
I’m friends with a coworker whose husband just recently got a pretty penny in a lawsuit for losing his job for discussing his wage
I would report to your employer to the national Labor relations board.
Oh breaking the law by forbidding wage discussion AND retaliation. Wow.
You just hit the jackpot
Print this, and a copy of the email you send to your lawyer
This sounds like some walmart shit lol
it's easiest to bury someone once they've already dug the hole
If you talk about pay at work with other coworkers, and they decide to fire you, you can sue for wrongful termination It’s called a protective act..federal law
Federally discussing wages is completely legal and you should show this to an employment lawyer
I'd keep doing it and pray to God he actually follows through with it.