Can we require employees to keep quiet about their wages?

A: No. It’s understandable that employers may not want folks discussing wages and salaries around the water cooler, but the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) makes it illegal to prohibit non-management employees from sharing this information. Under the NLRA, non-management employees have the right to discuss their wages, hours and working conditions with each other. Employers in non-union environments need to understand this rule as well, since it applies to union and non-union work forces alike.