General Discussion

wickerwoman

(5,662 posts)

4. I don't think you were responsible

Sat Dec 7, 2013, 02:28 PM

Dec 2013

for the awkwardness of the conversation.

It's not your job, as a fellow employee, to be informing temps how much money they are being paid unless they are working for you. Anyway, you don't necessarily know the actual amount.

It's your employers responsibility to tell the temp, or the agency's or the temps responsibility to ask one of those two organisations.

It's just bad manners anyway to discuss how much money you make or to ask other people you work with how much they make. I've worked for companies where it's part of the company policy/contract you sign when you are employed that you don't disclose your salary to other employees. While that's obviously self-serving of the company, it also helps to avoid extremely awkward conversations like this and to spare feelings and reduce resentment and infighting.

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Highlight:

"How much do we make here?" asked the temp six hours into his shift [View all] Nikia Dec 2013 OP

Something is better than nothing. Rod Beauvex Dec 2013 #1

While asking an employer does not make me insensitive, saying that to the temp Nikia Dec 2013 #2

Now you know. Gormy Cuss Dec 2013 #32

When I was in the job market, salary was almost always my first question. closeupready Dec 2013 #3

I don't think you were responsible wickerwoman Dec 2013 #4

It's entirely self serving Lordquinton Dec 2013 #16

This sounds like it was taken directly from the Plantation Owner's Handbook... jtuck004 Dec 2013 #18

Wow. wickerwoman Dec 2013 #29

You may feel differently if you found that the slacker with the same job title makes more than you. Gormy Cuss Dec 2013 #33

Now that you mention it... Orrex Dec 2013 #36

And plays into the hands of the plantation owner as if it were gift-wrapped. Americans are taught jtuck004 Dec 2013 #35

the great american economy in the 21th century - 'something is better than nothing' KG Dec 2013 #5

Check List... Blus4u Dec 2013 #12

Do not confuse Half-Century Man Dec 2013 #6

And we have our thread winner. Brigid Dec 2013 #11

Something is better than nothing is belittling to any employee, dmr Dec 2013 #7

Wait! yesterday we heard that the job market is completely healed, owing Doctor_J Dec 2013 #8

It's healed if you're an employer. Or a prison guard. nt Ace Acme Dec 2013 #9

I have a master's degree blur256 Dec 2013 #10

Would you have agreed to work at your jobs if you had no idea if it paid $12/hour or minimum? Nikia Dec 2013 #21

Honestly, blur256 Dec 2013 #23

as a temp though hfojvt Dec 2013 #24

And you can be sure that the employer pays a lot more to the agency than you get Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2013 #42

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2013 #25

Welcome to the mstinamotorcity2 Dec 2013 #27

So sad blur256 Dec 2013 #34

Yes us Serfs and Waifs must mstinamotorcity2 Dec 2013 #38

What is your degree in? oberliner Dec 2013 #37

My undergrad blur256 Dec 2013 #39

Very interesting oberliner Dec 2013 #40

Thank you so much! blur256 Dec 2013 #41

We 99-percenters . . . Brigid Dec 2013 #13

Ever notice Republican NEVER claim the rich are doing well? Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2013 #15

You got that right. Brigid Dec 2013 #17

There are a LOT of workers making $12 an hour that feel like they're doing great. Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2013 #14

I have been told that it is a bad idea in an interview to even ASK what a job pays... Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #19

But it should be your question before you agree to take the job Nikia Dec 2013 #20

Nikia, apologize to that gal Skittles Dec 2013 #22

k&r for the truth, however depressing it may be. n/t Laelth Dec 2013 #26

don't feel bad. they should have asked the employer, period. unblock Dec 2013 #28

Why ask the question? Zo Zig Dec 2013 #30

i worked as a temp from '79 to '88 at NY Telephone. DesertFlower Dec 2013 #31