<![CDATA[Do you compare your salary with others?]]>

markfch:
I guess most of us have worked before. My first boss told me never ever compare pay amongst colleagues (maybe he has vested interested so saying so 😉 ). But after working fo so long, I can see the wisdom in his words.


To me, comparing results is like comparing pay. Even if kid has 2 marks more than neighbour, alarm bells may sound cos why only 2 marks. Neighbour not very diligent you know etc etc. If results worse than neighbour, then the feeling is even more frustrating.

So why create opportunity to make ourselves unhappy? But I do agree that it'll be useful to see where we stand in terms of highest score, median score.
This is another very interesting topic which I think we should make a poll.

From my personal experience gained from so many of wroking life, more often it will make you feel more frustrated when u get know the salary of the people around you and this is definitely not healthy.

Even when one who joined a company with 20-30% jumped, bear in mind the pay for any new hire is always in the 50-80% range of all the staff of the same job grade in that company (this is talking about experienced staff). Unless the person is hand picked by a bigshot. So there are always at least 20% of the people higher. Those are unsually long and old timers.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/12485/do-you-compare-your-salary-with-othersRSS for NodeSun, 19 Apr 2026 01:18:38 GMTWed, 21 Jul 2010 04:25:31 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 05:27:13 GMT]]>It is all depends who and where you are in your career life. The boss definitely does not want his employees/subordinates to compare. But the employees always have the curiosity of wanting to find out. Come on are all human being. I’m sure everyone ever asked directly or indirectly in his/her whole career life. It’s all depend on how tactful you are without hurting others and practice self-balancing. The msg I want to convey is we know it is not right but we still want to know. The other msg is when we ask we hope to get something but when we were being asked we try not to tell. It is like we want to know others but don’t want others to know ours. Well, this is human nature again.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/332560https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/332560Thu, 13 Jan 2011 05:27:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:42:26 GMT]]>

tankee:
:idea: for those who said they do not compare, I wonder do they compare other things, like type of housing, mode of transport, frequency & location of holidays, handbags, shoes, etc :?

I would imagine so that they do compare other things as per you have mentioned. But it could be gifts/sponsorship from their spouses...not necessarily coming from their own pocket.

The other thing could be due to peer pressure..if many of colleagues start carrying an LV, Prada or Ferragamo...one would need one to upkeep an image.- then comparision starts all over again who's bag is more expensive than who's...etc

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/332428https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/332428Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:42:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:18:52 GMT]]>Of course I would find out solely for the reason of gauging the workload and work responsibilities. Not comparing against what others are getting, nor complaining overpaid or underpaid. Just that dont want to be taken advantage of by others or company as a whole, and having no life slogging it out unknowingly....


Having say dat, I do not probe further when others do not want to say lah.... I know who are my colleagues who are higher paid than me doing the same job. Guess what, I dont feel any unfairness because of my choice to adjust my professional and non-prefessional life accordingly.

I'm not a saint, but at least I had stopped feeling resentment on unfair pay treatment...... 🙏

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329976https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329976Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:18:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:17:18 GMT]]>:idea: for those who said they do not compare, I wonder do they compare other things, like type of housing, mode of transport, frequency & location of holidays, handbags, shoes, etc :?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329857https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329857Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:17:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:04:52 GMT]]>As long as I think I am paid fairly for the amount of work I’m doing, I’m not going to compare. If I think I’m not paid fairly, then I’ll look out and find another opportunity that I think will pay me fairly. No poing comparing…人比人，气死人…一山还有一山高…can’t finish the comparison and be contented with your lot if this continues.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329846https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329846Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:04:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:52:35 GMT]]>no…I’m not…my co stated v clearly…P&C 😎

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329832https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329832Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:52:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:56:02 GMT]]>i also dun… think its too rude n invasive…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329765https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329765Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:56:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:25:40 GMT]]>No, I don't usually ask and compare. IF someone mentions who and who has this kind of salary with their kind of skills which is not so good type, I will feel under paid. 😞

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329728https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329728Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:25:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 06:34:08 GMT]]>Notice: Younger or newer staff do not mind sharing as their starting pay doesn’t differ very much, and on newer pay terms that pale in comparison to last generation pay term. Older staff not so open as they are on traditional (‘dinosaur’ as they are called) pay terms that rewards age seniority, company royality etc… Either that or their pay had risen to a higher level that it is uncomfortable to say for theirs and family safety. The difference between the 2 groups could be 2-3 times, for a same position same workload, albeit different level of work experiences…


Well, professionally I dun recommend pay disclosure as fictions, distrust, jealousy and low morale can happen in same dept in office.

Personally I would go round checking, as it is my personal way to gauge how much and what I should pour my energy into my profession. And how much and what I can use to balance out with my after-office hours. Work life balance they call it, and I agree with it to a certain extent.

I could be wrong. Just that I firmly believe in the Chinese Saying: Swim with the tide or river flow, no point swimming against it, you will tire out stressed, moody, depressed with health problem.

So my life philosophy is: Never swim against the tide, I can swim left or right, sometime against, but mostly along with the flow.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329592https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/329592Mon, 10 Jan 2011 06:34:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 06:14:33 GMT]]>No. Too depressing 😞

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/328914https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/328914Sun, 09 Jan 2011 06:14:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 02:27:38 GMT]]>I disagree too on sharing the salary infor. In my ex company, somehow the salary figure got leaked out for all the staff & this start to cause unhappiness as people start to compare.


Eg. a person with many years of experience is only commanding $100 more compared to another person of 0 experience in the industry or a sales person has the same pay as an office admin (who is there far longer) - all this creates unbalance & this cause a big morale issue in the company.

In my current company, my boss is really bad with his paperwork & sometimes just leave HR letters (like letter of offer) on the desk - I chose deliberately not to look at them - as ignorance is bliss…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/324952https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/324952Tue, 04 Jan 2011 02:27:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:56:55 GMT]]>i dont favor sharing these info - Hardly two job and no two person are exactly the same. Sharing these info is a start to many many unfavorable events…if you believe you are not paid reasonablly, then switch job/company.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/239791https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/239791Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:56:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:08:51 GMT]]>This is an interesting topic. I don’t share such info with colleagues, too sensitive. Only with 2 same industry closed friends, more of benchmarking. But how much you get every month doesn’t matter, it is how much you can save, or even make it "work" for you, isn’t it?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/239769https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/239769Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:08:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:48:31 GMT]]>Nope - i feel its too sensitive!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/236786https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/236786Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:48:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:32:03 GMT]]>Secretly, we all want to know how much others earn.


But the problem is: There will always be someone who makes more than us. And we think we should be making more than that person ....

And therein lies the problem... :stupid:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/235947https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/235947Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:32:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:39:55 GMT]]>

HyperKiasu:
in all my prviouse jobs, we didn't compare salaries. i only encoutered one woman who asked me how much i earned.


but for bonus, we did discuss openly. how many months bonus? and also how much % of annual increment (with less interest though)

😄
Interesting. I keep mum on my bonus.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/227425https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/227425Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:39:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:37:47 GMT]]>From what I have observed with my younger staff, they tend to be more open with sharing of income information. In fact, come bonus time, they show each other their bonus letters!


The older staff are more conservative in this regard.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/227421https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/227421Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:37:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:28:32 GMT]]>actually if they really want to share info wif each other, how would u ever be able to restrict? u cannot monitor them anyway, and yes, there is no legal restriction to share income info. even if there are, people wil stil do it, otherwise there wil b no insider trading right?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/224685https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/224685Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:28:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:26:49 GMT]]>

foreverj:
3Boys:

I am pretty surprised to hear such a pre-dominance of opinion AGAINST sharing of salary information. I do agree its not good practice and can lead to morale issues, but we're an open society and if my staff want to talk and compare their pay, I certainly don't dictate against it.


i guess it's not dictating against it. just that its unavoidable that some wil have \"heart problems\" after knowing one another's salary. it could mean people asking for promotions or salary adjustments or move on to other jobs becos of disappointment, meaning more work for u whichever scenario happens.

Agree it is more work for managers, but that's what managers are for...? 😉

Philosophically, I am against restricting information (salary info) for which there is no moral nor legal injunction. I do find it quite hard to accept that we would restrict our employees from discussing their salaries amongst themselves, if they so wish?

My 2c.....

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/224646https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/224646Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:26:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:53:44 GMT]]>

3Boys:
I am pretty surprised to hear such a pre-dominance of opinion AGAINST sharing of salary information. I do agree its not good practice and can lead to morale issues, but we're an open society and if my staff want to talk and compare their pay, I certainly don't dictate against it.

i guess it's not dictating against it. just that its unavoidable that some wil have \"heart problems\" after knowing one another's salary. it could mean people asking for promotions or salary adjustments or move on to other jobs becos of disappointment, meaning more work for u whichever scenario happens.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/224617https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/224617Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:53:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:33:35 GMT]]>I am pretty surprised to hear such a pre-dominance of opinion AGAINST sharing of salary information. I do agree its not good practice and can lead to morale issues, but we’re an open society and if my staff want to talk and compare their pay, I certainly don’t dictate against it.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/224559https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/224559Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:33:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:01:46 GMT]]>Generally I think most people do not share. Those people who try very hard to find out generally think they are not being paid enough hence wants to find out the "market rate". For me, I asked only at best couple of times in my working life but just told my ex-colleague to give me in terms of a "range" so that I get an idea of the market rate. And my ex-colleague asked me before quite insistently (after I joined new company) so I divulge only because she is more senior than me and was my supervisor so surely my pay can’t be more than hers!


Some of my junior colleagues compared and somehow got to know each other’s pay. Became very unpleasant after that! One colleague of mine will always come and ask me how many months bonus our dept. got? For some reason I always told him but he never tell me back. Quite stupid to divulge right?
😎

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/224220https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/224220Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:01:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:08:58 GMT]]>IMHO, it's a BIG no-no.

I have witnessed people who shared info about pay & bonuses. Then that next day, bo friend liao :roll:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/223370https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/223370Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:08:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do you compare your salary with others? on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:26:26 GMT]]>

HyperKiasu:
but for bonus, we did discuss openly. how many months bonus? and also how much % of annual increment (with less interest though)


😄
Unless, it is across the board, this one super sensitive leh... 😉

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/222460https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/222460Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:26:26 GMT