do you discuss your salary rate?
By jeanneyvonne
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
Philippines
May 2, 2011 4:02am CST
I know that it is considered rude to ask someone how much their paycheck is. However, an aunt of mine is consistently asking me on how much I earn a month. As always, I gave the ballpark figure, so that she will stop bothering me. But every time we meet, she always asks the same thing! It's not that I changed jobs in a flash!
Her daughter, who is my cousin, always gives me pitying looks when her mother asks the dreaded salary question. I kinda get that my aunt tries to compare her daughter's salary with mine, which is ridiculous because we both work in different industries and in different positions.
If my friends ask, I also gave the ballpark figure and they do the same, unless they were promoted to a higher position. But i never ever initiated that kind of conversation. I consider it rude.
Do you feel the same regarding this matter?
1 person likes this
14 responses
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
3 May 11
It's uncomfortable to be asked how much you make. And, annoying in your case if your aunt compares yours with her daughter's. Talking about salaries is really something I don't get into. And, you're right. I find it rude when people ask about salary, unless they have valid reason. So, normally I don't go around asking other people's salaries either.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
3 May 11
I hate it when a person asks about my salary rate. I would ask "why do you want to know?" That will silence them.
It's rude to ask about salary rate. Good, if you are being interviewed for a job application, and asked for that. That is needed , so i will not hide it.
But for other people to ask me about it, "why do you want to know?"
@katrinapaz (2436)
• Philippines
3 May 11
me and my colleagues always discuss our paycheck every payday and we do compare it. we dont consider it rude because we have been comparing since the first paycheck that we received :)
@onlytheo (23)
• United States
2 May 11
I don't like discussing my pay rate with anyone. That is information that I only disclose if it will help me out in some sort of way, like applying for a loan or something. If someone is just asking to be nosey, I usually give a general answer like "enough" and keep it moving. Like you I just don't feel comfortable giving out that type of information for no reason.
@netirelis20 (1)
•
3 May 11
i think its rude and no one shuld know how much youre earning,because its your private thing
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
2 May 11
Hmm, I think it would depend on who's asking. If it's a close relative like your parents or siblings, I guess it would be okay. If it was a colleague, I think it would be unprofessional to ask, and insisting would be really rude. Giving a ballpark figure would be the best way to answer questions about salaries without offending the person who's asking. It also gives that person a hint not to ask those questions :)
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
2 May 11
I never discuss my salary with anyone else. it really is no cncern of anyone else how much money i make or how i spend it. that choice and decsion is mine to make and it is of no value to anybody else.
@slovenc1 (2089)
• Slovenia
2 May 11
I don't find it rude i tell anyone who asks me and i hate it when you ask someone and he doesn't tell you. Will you die if you tell me how much you get paid? Some people could be jealous but that's their problem.I don't earn much but whatever i earn i'd share with anyone. It's rude if you always save money and never pay for a drink with friends and just pile your money in secret. And stars for example when they are asked how much they earn they say they don't earn much and than you ask again and they say they won't tell but we can all asume they earn more than an average worker so why wouldn't they tell. But in the end it's personal decision and money means to much to most people. My opinion, but it is rude to repitedly ask and compare like your aunt.
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
2 May 11
I'd say it's rather rude, and rather silly to compare the wages for people who are in different industries.
I don't normally ask how much people earn, nor do I talk about my salary, but it depends on the situation. For instance, in the office, where I am the most senior employee with the highest salary, I sometimes tell my co-workers how much are the bonuses, so they know what to request during the salary negotiations.
The rudest thing that ever happened to me was when a relative asked how much money I made, so she could decide whether I had enough to baptize her child. Needless to say, I turned down the request to become a godmother for her child. 
@naija4real (1291)
•
2 May 11
I am willing to share my salary information with my close relations such as my wife,father, mother, sister and brother,etc. Although, I will not give them the direct figure I will give them some estimate and then leave them with the burden of calculating the final amount.
As for external persons, I will not disclose such a confidential information to the public.
@Gaurav2d (29)
• India
2 May 11
yes ,it gives us an unpleasent feeling and if someone very close to us asks us we feel secure but it makes us insecure if someone else asks us about our salary and if it is once then it is okay,but as you say reapeated cases can make you think and that is, a rise of a problem.
@heavenrenz (190)
•
2 May 11
It is okay to discuss your salary rate if you feel comfortable with the person your talking to but if your not then you don't have to discuss it with them anyway you have your right to your own privacy even if they insist,eventually they will probably feel that you want to keep it yourself.
@martinnshann (340)
• Bahrain
2 May 11
Hi there!
In my case today, It's a shame to discuss my salary.. My salary is not enough or inapproriate for my position.
