Why You Should Never Discuss Salary With Fellow Nurses
“Do not discuss your salary with your colleagues.” This is the first and most important instruction given out to an employee when someone joins a new office. Various companies or hospitals may even ask you to sign a document that states that you will not discuss your salary. While you may feel that it is not required, discussing salary with fellow nurses or coworkers can cause serious repercussions at work. If you discuss your salary with a co-worker, you or the other party may think that they are underpaid, or a situation can backfire on you, becomes plausible. There are more than a few reasons that state discussing salary is a bad idea. Discussing salary can be a demotivating experience Remaining concerned about other people’s salary can be a demoralizing issue as you will constantly feel stressed, knowing how much the other person earns. If they are earning more than you, it becomes even more difficult. Therefore, the best thing to do is to concentrate on yourself and take note of your own career path instead of focusing on others. Nurses should concentrate on what can be done to best help patients, instead of brooding over another nurse’s salary. Conclusions based on assumptions It is always difficult to make an exact comparison between two people, as every person has a different story. If you are comparing yourself to a fellow nurse who has vast experience, another type of job, is highly qualified or has other certifications, there's a chance they might be compensated differently. Therefore, consider that a person more experienced than you will have a higher salary. Salaries depend on a person’s condition or the organization’s personal philosophy. Trust is not easily earned It can be difficult to know who to trust, as even friends may lie to you. The main issue with discussing salaries with fellow nurses is that they may or may not give you reliable information. In certain situations, a fellow nurse may lie to you about their salary as they want to look appear successful. Even if they are telling the truth, filter the information and decide what to make of it.
Comparing yourself to others hurts chances of getting promoted Hospital authorities are seldom persuaded by a nurse who compares him or herself to fellow nurses, and asks for a raise. Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on your work and let that speak for you. Avoid workplace gossip and make the right decisions. Hospitals and companies are regularly examining their practices to ensure employees are not paid differently based on gender, race, or any other discriminating factors. While employees are free to discuss their salaries, mentioning this delicate issue can lead to envy among co-workers. Therefore, avoid discussing salaries and focus on your own career and goals. Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter