Your right to discuss your salary information with your coworkers is protected by the federal government. According to The New York Times, the National Labor Relations Act states that employers can’t ban the discussion of salary and working conditions among employees. Only your coworkers can tell you their salaries.

Should you talk about salary with coworkers?

Yes, it’s legal to discuss your pay with coworkers. They say employers strive to keep workers from talking about money so they can continue to pay them less. This law restricts private sector employers from creating policies that prohibit wage discussions.

Is it illegal to talk to other employees in the workplace?

Neil Pedersen. There is nothing unlawful about an employer forbidding you to talk to other employees when you should be working. It is further not unlawful for an employer to forbid employees from talking about many kinds of things in the workplace.

Is it illegal for employees to discuss wages?

The employer had a handbook policy against discussing wages, but it was found to be unlawful by the NLRB. As a result, the employee was given back pay and offered reinstatement, and the employer changed its handbook. This case illustrates a common misconception — that employers can forbid employees from discussing their salaries.

When do employers say,’Don’t Tell your coworkers how much’?

“Workers call us up saying they’re unhappy and they want to organize,” Becker explains, “and when organizers look at the employee manual, sure enough, they find a policy saying that workers aren’t allowed to discuss their pay.” Gag rules, then, are policies that flourish when employers know the law and their employees do not.

Can a employer forbid employees from discussing salary?

What employers can’t do. You cannot forbid employees – either verbally or in written policy – from discussing salaries or other job conditions among themselves. Discussing salary at work is protected regardless of whether employees are talking to each other in person or through social media.