Vigilant Blog

News, trends and analysis in employment law, HR, safety & workers' comp

Jan 27, 2015

Can we require employees to keep quiet about their wages?

Q&ALabor Relations 

Q: We’re worried that morale could be hurt by employees comparing their salary or wages with one another. Can we prohibit our employees from discussing 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.

This website presents general information in nontechnical language. This information is not legal advice. Before applying this information to a specific management decision, consult legal counsel.

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