Employees discussing salaries

JudyB

Hi Guys
Does anyone have any good info on the issue of employees discussing salaries being a protected activity. This is a very hot issue for all employees whether union or not.
Thanks

tfevergrn

Here is one quote from an attorney in a seminar handbook. "While employers may wish to designate certain information as confidential and discipline employees who disclose such information, employees are generally permitted to discuss their wages and terms or conditions of employment with each other. Rules requiring confidentiality are strictly scrutinized. The NRLB requires that confidentiality requirements be very limited in both time and scope".

Therefore it is best to focus on performance. If employees are not getting their jobs done because they are spending too much time talking to each other about anything, while not on a break, discipline them for not completing tasks in a timely fashion, or being late with projects, inaccuracies, etc.

Hope this helps.........

System

Here's a free article on HRhero.com:

[b]May an employer prohibit workers from discussing their pay?[/b]
[url]http://www.hrhero.com/national/wage.shtml[/url]

Christy Reeder
Website Managing Editor
[url]www.HRhero.com[/url]

David Hagaman GA

I haven't researched this issue in awhile, but I recall that the NLRB has issued a decision or two that says an employer's rule prohibiting employees from discussing their wage and/or salary information violates the Act. The theory is that employees interested in discussing unions must be able,as part of that discussion, to also discuss their wages without fear that such discussions will violate the employer's rules. A rule such as this is invalid on its face irrespective of whether the employer actually enforces it.

Don D

David is precisely right. The National Labor Relations Board, in their administration and enforcement of the NLR Act considers employee discussion of wages to be protected activity. Whether or not the place of work has a collective bargaining agreement is immaterial.