We fear not having enough, but are embarrassed if we have too much. With friends we openly discuss sex, politics and work. Even employers who know how much their employees make rarely discuss money attitudes. Yet, many of us take a voyeur's delight in learning about how much money other people have and how they spend it. Like it or not, employees seem to savor office gossip that reveals how much the boss or a fellow worker is making.
Many businesses respond by making any discussion of salaries a terminable offense.
It's a strictly confidential matter between the employee and the company. If you allow your employees to break that rule, then you're inviting jealousy, resentment and gossip that can quickly undermine team unity. When it comes to giving away money, American business folk are a charitable lot, often making great show of it. Tune in any Labor Day weekend to the Jerry Lewis Telethon and watch the corporate executives scrambling all over one another to have their company be seen doing something good. Yet when it comes to making money, we will ruthlessly barter, quibble and cajole our suppliers to shave every cent possible to get the best deal.