Do your friends know how much you make?
My brother-in-blogging Keith at $ out of $.15 posted a New York Times story about how young professionals are more apt to know the salaries of their friends. Yikes. I think that's a touchy topic. Now, for most of my media friends, I have a ball park figure of their salaries. I don't disclose what I make to my friends or family, but I think everyone has a clue. I am eligible for an economic stimulus payment; so, I'm not a millionaire. I have told my mentors what I make. I always seek their advice during salary negotiations. I know a reporter whose friend at work told her how much she made. It turned out to be WAY more than what the reporter made. The reporter marched up to management, pleaded her case and got a raise. Sharing salary information can have its perks.
Posted by Natalie P. at 05:22 AM on May 5, 2008 in Social Life | Permalink
Some of my friends know about how much I make and some don't. It's not a big deal to me. I don't go around broadcasting that info but don't mind giving it if it's relevant to the convo.
However, I DON'T share what I make with others at work. To me that's none of their business. I know I make more than some people and I'm sure they'd focus in on that while neglecting what I've accomplished that makes me worth more than them.
Posted by: savvy | May 05, 2008 at 09:18 AM
It depends on the situation. I once worked at a three-reporter paper where we suspected the lone male reporter was earning more. The other woman reporter dated him, got him to tell her he was making $115 to our $100. I went to the editor who tried several reasons that I rebutted on education, experience, work load, etc. Then he came right out and said: "He's single and has to pick up the tab for his dates. You can get somebody to buy you dinner. That's why." I went to the publisher and got the $15.
Posted by: Lou | May 05, 2008 at 10:20 AM
I prefer not to disclose my salary to my co-workers, but friends are fine. Savvy I'm with you!
Posted by: Jasmine | May 05, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Too much pride. If I told my friends, they would start passing the hat.
Posted by: Coco | May 05, 2008 at 11:29 AM
My friends don't know what I make, probably because I am a pretty private person. However I do see the benefits of sharing such information, for starters you can see if you are losing out at your company... just a thought.
Posted by: Product Junkie Diva | May 05, 2008 at 12:34 PM
For people working in similar industries, sharing salary information could be helpful.
Posted by: chic not cheap | May 05, 2008 at 02:53 PM
I tell my closest friends because I know I can trust them, and I only talk about it so they can understand my chosen profession is not what they think it is.
Posted by: Chris | May 05, 2008 at 03:00 PM
I think it's in American culture to don't ask don't tell
However, my close friends know and my parents
Posted by: Moneymonk | May 05, 2008 at 05:19 PM
That's a tough one. You kind of have to know other people's salaries just to negotiate, to know your market value. But then again, there are haters out there. If only money wasn't so divisive.
Posted by: Elizabeth Wellington | May 05, 2008 at 08:42 PM
The Salary Question...
I personally don't tell unless the person asking has relatively the same earning power.
What if the your friend had gone to management and failed to get a raise, next thing you know, resentment start building.
Plus, why would anyone share or ask for that information unless they believe there is a large gap?
Posted by: azouman@mac.com | May 05, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Well in NYC it's pretty easy to estimate what your friends make based off their rent. People are more willing to tell you how much they pay in rent vs how much they make. So if it is that important to a person to know how much their friends are making they can multiply their rent by 40 to 50 and that's a good range.
Posted by: Tiffany | May 06, 2008 at 12:40 PM