Salary Sharing with Coworkers: Nurses Discuss the Benefits of Pay Transparency

You may wonder if there’s a benefit to salary sharing with coworkers, and who should know how much you make and why? While these are all valid questions, pay is personal, and some feel uncomfortable sharing this information. Many people may also not understand the benefits of pay transparency.

Pay equity in the workplace and closing racial and gender wage gaps are significant factors in nursing — a predominantly female profession. Pay transparency is one way to shine a light on these discrepancies. Understanding your rights and benefits to salary sharing with coworkers is key to closing wage gaps and fostering a work environment based on trust.

Although most experts believe that sharing your salary with your coworkers benefits you and your colleagues, many U.S. workers are still uncomfortable talking about how much money they earn. Some companies have a policy against these discussions, which generally violates federal labor laws set forth by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Under the National Labor Relations Act, all employees can communicate with their colleagues about how much they earn, including bonuses and other perks. The Act covers communication that occurs face-to-face and in written messages.

Policies that prohibit the discussion of wages are unlawful, but an employer can limit how employees use company equipment, like computer systems and telephones. It’s important to understand your employer’s policy about using their equipment.

Human resource professionals often caution employees when comparing salaries to consider their coworker’s expertise level and skill set.

Nancy Mitchell has over 37 years of experience in geriatric nursing care, both as a senior care nurse and director of nursing care. She cautions nurses to be sure they are comparing apples to apples.

“Sharing salary information can cause other nurses significant distress. Say you work in another state or country where the pay is significantly higher,” she says.

Another point to consider is the potential that your colleague may not be truthful about how much they make.

Amanda Lundberg, BSN, RN, has over 10 years of experience in clinical nursing and a degree in cultural anthropology. While she recognizes that the advantages of salary sharing among coworkers typically outweigh the disadvantages, she acknowledges a few challenges.

“Disclosure of salary information may lead to frustration among nurses receiving lower compensation which might lead to decreases in morale and productivity levels,” she says.

While the conversations may be uncomfortable and the information disheartening, there are still significant benefits to sharing salary information with coworkers.

Lundberg believes there are personal and professional benefits to salary sharing with nurse coworkers, including moving toward equitable pay.

“Openly discussing salary among nurse colleagues can be a powerful tool for making sure wages are fair and equitable across the field,” she says.

The benefits of salary sharing with nurse coworkers include:

Talking outright about money can be challenging. First, consider speaking with your colleagues about why you want to discuss salary. Be sure to talk about gender and race wage gaps, pay discrimination, and how this knowledge gives you negotiating power with your manager.

Once you’ve started the conversation, if neither of you wants to disclose your salary up front, you may want to begin by confirming or denying a salary range. For example, you might say, “I see salaries for charge nurses that range from $70,000 to $80,000 per year. Is that accurate in your experience?”

Another option is to start with information you get from researching online salary databases. This can help give you a sense of the pay range you and your colleague can reference to start your conversation.

Ultimately, it comes down to rejecting the taboo around discussing money with coworkers, friends, and family. Even if your employer doesn’t create a climate of transparency, you can get the ball rolling by becoming more comfortable and talking about money regularly.

The more you talk about salary with your coworkers, the easier the conversation becomes.