Can Your Employer Legally Silence Your Wage Discussions?

Have you ever worked a job where you were told you could not discuss your pay or salary with others you work with?

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I have. I had no idea then that this is a federally protected right.

I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. I want to share briefly what I learned about this and where you can find more information, whether you are an employer or an employee.

Discussing salaries at work is not only permissible, but the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects it under federal law, even in non-unionized workplaces.

This protection is part of employees’ rights to engage in “protected concerted activity,” focusing on mutual aid or protection regarding employment terms and conditions.

Policies against wage discussion could violate federal labor laws, leading to actions by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), including complaints and required changes to company policies. Employers are prohibited from forbidding or penalizing employees for discussing salaries and job conditions, whether these discussions take place in…