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  3. What would happen if every working class person told their co-workers how much money they make?

What would happen if every working class person told their co-workers how much money they make?

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  • G [email protected]

    The way to solve this is to pay people fair and equal wages. Union employees all know how much everyone makes (at least my union), and nobody is jealous and starts workplace drama. We might be pissed if someone's in a higher position than us and therefore getting paid better, but that's an issue in any workplace.

    If someone is getting paid more for the same work (as in, they're in a higher position so they're getting paid better), then the employee takes it up with the union who fights on their behalf to improve their salary.

    Payment transparency leads to employees having the ability to demand change and argue for themselves.

    Unions aren't a perfect system but there's a reason they work.

    D This user is from outside of this forum
    D This user is from outside of this forum
    [email protected]
    wrote on last edited by
    #24

    Unions aren’t a perfect system but there’s a reason they work.

    I think you misunderstand. Unions aren't the problem, it's the spineless useless union reps that don't adequetly protect the workers. Like he would advocate for those that he's friends with, but then they have a beef with you for some weird reason and then neglect their duties to help you with stuff. Kinda like politicians in a democracy not representing their constituents. Its not the democracy being a problem, its a people problem.

    Tbh, Idk why dipshits get elected as the union rep, but dumb people exist in the electorate, just as with the union members.

    (But I don't work there anymore so that's out of my hands, their problem to fix)

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    • return2ozma@lemmy.worldR [email protected]

      Like a national tell your coworkers your hourly/salary day.

      G This user is from outside of this forum
      G This user is from outside of this forum
      [email protected]
      wrote on last edited by [email protected]
      #25

      I've basically made a career out of serving and bartending. I took a 5 year break to do the stay at home mom thing but my first job getting back into it loved me at first.

      It was a very interesting dynamic because it was my first job outside the city I grew up in but it was like riding a bike and I picked it up and immediately impressed them on the first night I was only supposed to be training.

      Problem was was that they started firing my coworkers for the most questionable reasons. Then the trophy wife owner would show up to every court hearing for unemployment with forged signatures on their "policy handbook". A lot of underhanded tactics were used. One of my very good friends was fired on his birthday.

      But everytime they'd give me a raise to placate me so I wouldn't leave. I could write a novel about that place because that's how my mind works but I won't.

      Long story short, I responded to a server/bartender Facebook group at one point and mentioned my hourly for serving and for bartending. A coworker happen to see my comment and must have complained. (She couldn't have ever earned the raises I got even if I got them on merit, but she's a squeaky wheel and sits on a stool when her patrons need their beverages refreshed and plates cleared)

      Boss lady made the mistake of messaging me that "it was agreed that you would not talk about your pay" which wasn't true. She'd whisper to me that I got another raise but never actually said not to say anything, and also- you don't get to dictate what I speak about on my own personal Facebook account.

      I removed my comment just to unruffle feathers however I saved my boss's message and linked her the exact federal/state article that forbids her from reprimanding me.

      That's when they tried to get me for minor shit. It was absolutely transparent what they were doing but I recorded everything and kept track of dates, times, incidents, message screenshots.

      I saw the writing on the wall though and there was another place that had been wanting to poach me for a good while.

      I was planning on fighting them earnestly for unemployment and take a month or two off before I started with the new place but they got desperate when their daytime bartender left so I got matching wages if I put my two weeks in and started ASAP so I did.

      It was an absolute blessing. That next place treated me well and I was there for about 6 years until they closed their doors for good. Still miss them. I would have missed my old bosses too, if they didn't try to do dirty the way they did because I genuinely loved them and I wish there wasn't that bad blood. I don't regret anything though. They brought it on themselves being so two faced and underhanded.

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      • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.worldH [email protected]

        Bullshit. This is the propaganda employers use so employees don't have information to make educated decisions. There are already industries that have payroll information available to all employees, or even fully publicly available.

        The simple fact is most people don't resent each other for being paid less, they resent the employer exploiting them, as they should.

        G This user is from outside of this forum
        G This user is from outside of this forum
        [email protected]
        wrote on last edited by
        #26

        I just wrote my comment on this particular issue. I had a coworker complain that I made more than them and Boss tried to shame me for it.

        Weirdly though I became the manager at my next place and had no problem sitting someone down and telling them why they weren't making as much as their counterparts and when they'd get their scheduled raise and how they could improve and possibly get a bonus raise based purely on merit.

        Some people get salty, some people rise to the occasion. The ones that rise to the occasion are dedicated, they're receptive to constructive criticism and eager to show you they want to improve. It's just as much a breathe of fresh air for me to see them so happy that they actually got a raise and I wasn't just blowing smoke up their asses as it was for them to actually get a raise.

        After two raises to two different people I had shown my owner that his money was being put to good use because we got long standing, dedicated employees that went above and beyond. He never questioned it again after that when I proposed a raise for a coworker. Good man, and a good team.

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        • return2ozma@lemmy.worldR [email protected]

          Like a national tell your coworkers your hourly/salary day.

          S This user is from outside of this forum
          S This user is from outside of this forum
          [email protected]
          wrote on last edited by
          #27

          So this occurred once at work. Basically managment threatened that higher earners would stop getting raises until it balances out. Thing was there was a reason the others weren't getting raises. Like 8 years no raise is them saying you are ok but leave.

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          • return2ozma@lemmy.worldR [email protected]

            Like a national tell your coworkers your hourly/salary day.

            Z This user is from outside of this forum
            Z This user is from outside of this forum
            [email protected]
            wrote on last edited by
            #28

            Like they do in Norway?

            https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-40669239

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            • return2ozma@lemmy.worldR [email protected]

              Like a national tell your coworkers your hourly/salary day.

              M This user is from outside of this forum
              M This user is from outside of this forum
              [email protected]
              wrote on last edited by
              #29

              I think you'd find bigger imbalances from what we think is the norm.

              janus2@lemmy.zipJ 1 Reply Last reply
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              • return2ozma@lemmy.worldR [email protected]

                Like a national tell your coworkers your hourly/salary day.

                S This user is from outside of this forum
                S This user is from outside of this forum
                [email protected]
                wrote on last edited by
                #30

                I got reprimanded by my director with my boss present. I talked to HR which also discouraged me from discussing it. The NLRB person I spoke to when I called basically said that I had a case but good luck filing and winning in court versus a large corporation in the US.

                At least my ethics complaint about the director and HR rep both violating federal law and company policy was investigated. No idea what was done with it, but they told me it was investigated.

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                • return2ozma@lemmy.worldR [email protected]

                  Like a national tell your coworkers your hourly/salary day.

                  K This user is from outside of this forum
                  K This user is from outside of this forum
                  [email protected]
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #31

                  I'll tell you because I encouraged it. You get fired. Your coworkers realize their worth and seek better. You realize it was always meant to crush you and everyone around you into the dirt. You find a dark hole you can't crawl out of and you learn about the world. You decide you're sick of it and teach others the lessons you've learned. The world slowly becomes a better place, one person at a time. Maybe it gets a little easier for you, too.

                  return2ozma@lemmy.worldR T 2 Replies Last reply
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                  • K [email protected]

                    I'll tell you because I encouraged it. You get fired. Your coworkers realize their worth and seek better. You realize it was always meant to crush you and everyone around you into the dirt. You find a dark hole you can't crawl out of and you learn about the world. You decide you're sick of it and teach others the lessons you've learned. The world slowly becomes a better place, one person at a time. Maybe it gets a little easier for you, too.

                    return2ozma@lemmy.worldR This user is from outside of this forum
                    return2ozma@lemmy.worldR This user is from outside of this forum
                    [email protected]
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #32

                    I like you.

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                    • G [email protected]

                      South Park already covered this...

                      Everyone uses the T.M.I. formula but you tell everyone that anything about 1.5" qualifies as "nice" on the new scale.

                      Boom, everyone chills the fuck out.

                      T This user is from outside of this forum
                      T This user is from outside of this forum
                      [email protected]
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #33

                      Simpsons did it first

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                      • A [email protected]

                        I have a very strong suspicion that a large number of people would simply work "less" like "quiet quitting" (I hate that term.)

                        The majority of people I've worked with don't like asking for raises. It's not that they don't think they deserve more, they just have this aversion to going and initiating the conversation. I literally fought for a round of raises for everyone at the factory I work at to be considered because everyone I spoke to said they hadn't gotten one in ~5 years... I suspect they'll get envious of the people making more than them, but they won't have the guts to go ask for what they're worth and they'll stew in their envy just working less as retaliation.

                        launcheskayaks@lemmy.worldL This user is from outside of this forum
                        launcheskayaks@lemmy.worldL This user is from outside of this forum
                        [email protected]
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #34

                        I asked for a raise recently. I was laughed at and told that the company doesn't plan on promoting me to any kind of higher position ever. So now I'm just doing the bare minimum and I'm biding my time until I can find something better.

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                        • K [email protected]

                          I'll tell you because I encouraged it. You get fired. Your coworkers realize their worth and seek better. You realize it was always meant to crush you and everyone around you into the dirt. You find a dark hole you can't crawl out of and you learn about the world. You decide you're sick of it and teach others the lessons you've learned. The world slowly becomes a better place, one person at a time. Maybe it gets a little easier for you, too.

                          T This user is from outside of this forum
                          T This user is from outside of this forum
                          [email protected]
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #35

                          I did also, but anonymously via a burner phone. After I left my last company, I texted some people in another dept they were getting shafted compared to everyone else and to do something about it.

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                          • return2ozma@lemmy.worldR [email protected]

                            Like a national tell your coworkers your hourly/salary day.

                            F This user is from outside of this forum
                            F This user is from outside of this forum
                            [email protected]
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #36

                            Don't you already do that? It's common sense.

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                            • return2ozma@lemmy.worldR [email protected]

                              Like a national tell your coworkers your hourly/salary day.

                              B This user is from outside of this forum
                              B This user is from outside of this forum
                              [email protected]
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #37

                              I'll let you in on a little secret - it is very common for people to discuss their wages. But doing so can earn you ill will from your employer, and can start workplace drama if someone now feels like they are getting unfairly shafted compared to you when you actually are legitimately doing a better job.

                              So, people only discuss their wages with - get this - their friends. Yeah, one more reason to not be the asocial, head down, never speaks to anybody guy at work. If you never engage in watercooler talk, or go out to the bar for a couple drinks after work, or never talk to people about your hobbies and interests outside of work, then your coworkers won't trust you, and therefore won't tell you sensitive information like their wages.

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                              • return2ozma@lemmy.worldR [email protected]

                                Like a national tell your coworkers your hourly/salary day.

                                I This user is from outside of this forum
                                I This user is from outside of this forum
                                [email protected]
                                wrote on last edited by [email protected]
                                #38

                                I do. It helps being in a union lol. All pay rates are locatable

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                                • A [email protected]

                                  I have a very strong suspicion that a large number of people would simply work "less" like "quiet quitting" (I hate that term.)

                                  The majority of people I've worked with don't like asking for raises. It's not that they don't think they deserve more, they just have this aversion to going and initiating the conversation. I literally fought for a round of raises for everyone at the factory I work at to be considered because everyone I spoke to said they hadn't gotten one in ~5 years... I suspect they'll get envious of the people making more than them, but they won't have the guts to go ask for what they're worth and they'll stew in their envy just working less as retaliation.

                                  I This user is from outside of this forum
                                  I This user is from outside of this forum
                                  [email protected]
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #39

                                  I literally fought for a round of raises for everyone at the factory I work at to be considered

                                  Unionize!

                                  A 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • M [email protected]

                                    I think you'd find bigger imbalances from what we think is the norm.

                                    janus2@lemmy.zipJ This user is from outside of this forum
                                    janus2@lemmy.zipJ This user is from outside of this forum
                                    [email protected]
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #40

                                    at my last job I found out the guy who was training me was making the same amount even though he had 2 years' experience. i nagged him about it enough that he actually went to HR and got them to "fix" that "mistake."

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                                    • O [email protected]

                                      In Finland everyone can go to the tax office and see the incomes of everyone (with a ~1.5 years delay, i.e. 2023 is the latest today).

                                      I know what my colleagues and friends make. I think the only thing it would affect is, that if I felt that I was making less than I should, I would start looking for a new job.

                                      L This user is from outside of this forum
                                      L This user is from outside of this forum
                                      [email protected]
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #41

                                      if I felt that I was making less than I should, I would start looking for a new job.

                                      And this is why it's heavily discouraged in businesses. They want to milk people with minimal raises and not pay competitively. This is why it's good to switch jobs every 2-3 years. You get a nice pay bump especially if you upskill (certs and projects).

                                      This isn't limited to IT positions. You can get certs in many vendors or program management certs.

                                      I'm making three times what I used to four years ago from upskilling, job hopping and luck.

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                                      • return2ozma@lemmy.worldR [email protected]

                                        Like a national tell your coworkers your hourly/salary day.

                                        R This user is from outside of this forum
                                        R This user is from outside of this forum
                                        [email protected]
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #42

                                        Nearly every company would have a bunch of pissed off people.

                                        When you're hiring people year after year, and you have different amounts of money in your pockets to pay them. Wages get weird.

                                        Most companies that I've worked with underpay some people and overpay some people because situations arise and they either can or need to do one or the other. When they have to give somebody a big bump to keep them from leaving or higher hands in an emergency You often end up with somebody making a lot more than other people in their same position.

                                        Now a good place would have a strong career matrix and those people that get the bumps in salary would just be getting promotions. It looks a lot worse from the employee standpoints when you give Bob 20,000 more dollars, But when you move Bob up from a level two position to a management role, You can't really argue as well against that.

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                                        • I [email protected]

                                          I literally fought for a round of raises for everyone at the factory I work at to be considered

                                          Unionize!

                                          A This user is from outside of this forum
                                          A This user is from outside of this forum
                                          [email protected]
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #43

                                          Username checks out lol

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