The most valuable information for helping your peer renegotiate for higher pay is information about your earning more than your particular peer. When you reveal your higher pay with like the best intentions, we also know that that can have this demoralizing effect even if it has a corresponding information benefit. So there's something that we could think about doing which is difficult in the context you describe but could be instituted more broadly.
One of the primary reasons we work is to earn money, but many of us feel uncomfortable telling others how much we make. This fear may be working against women, because research has shown that salary transparency can help narrow the gender pay gap.
With the help of experts, we explore the complexities of talking about our salaries. First, an economist walks through the pros and cons of disclosing your pay. Then, the host of a personal finance podcast explains why she encourages people to speak openly about salaries. Finally, an HR executive gives advice on how to deal with the gut punch of learning that a peer makes more than you do.
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Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.