The reason salaries aren't publicly posted is because your employer wants to screw you over.

I'm no philosopher, but it's painfully obvious this it the case.

Think about it. If all salaries are posted, the company HAS to match what someone else of an equal role / background / education level is getting paid.

By obfuscating this information, they're lowballing desperate employees in hopes of getting a "sweet deal". I'm not sure of the specific data, but I'd guess maybe 30-40% of all workers are being underpaid.
Some out of need (to pay the bills), others out of ignorance (lack of due diligence / research).

So the question becomes, would you be comfortable if all salaries were searchable within your company?

 

I have to agree with OP. It is more advantageous for shareholders and partners if expenses are low.

Generally, managers have a budget and are measured not only by the performance of their group, but the aggregate profits including labor costs. These are the numbers you generally don't see in the stats, but are numbers execs press on managers, tier by tier to keep expenses low.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

That is not why companies do not post salaries. They do not post salaries so that Sally in HR doesn't get pissy that Jane makes more than her for what she thinks is "easier work". It is about controling interoffice jealousy and disputes. As for pay discrepencies they are not near as large as you seem to think. Most companies use level scales and pay employees who do the same job almost an identical base rate with the exception of minor negotation differences.

Follow the shit your fellow monkeys say @shitWSOsays Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid - John Wayne
 

I think Whole Foods discloses all salaries up to the CEO and it has been a successful strategy for them.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

I think this is a two-part issue.

I don't think that salaries should be searchable because some discrepancies are legitimate, such as someone earning more because they negotiated their salary versus someone who just took the first offer they got.

I think the second and real issue is that firms should disclose a salary range in all job postings. This would eliminate the awkward "what do you earn?" game that recruiters play with candidates and would allow both parties equal footing when it comes to salary negotiation. Firms will of course never do this as asking candidates for their salaries first is a way to lowball them later on.

 

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