Comments on: How much money do you make? “I make enough,” she said. http://queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/ We're here, We're queer, and We're not going Shopping without Coupons Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:23:21 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jen http://queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/comment-page-1/#comment-127156 Jen Tue, 13 May 2008 14:54:20 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/#comment-127156 I found out I was underpaid because of a coworker talking about salary. My company was paying a guy who had no experience more money than me .. and I had a master's degree, and was doing his work because he couldn't handle it. People should talk about salary to help level the playing field. I got a raise pretty quickly. Gen X here ...<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-127156">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> I found out I was underpaid because of a coworker talking about salary. My company was paying a guy who had no experience more money than me .. and I had a master’s degree, and was doing his work because he couldn’t handle it. People should talk about salary to help level the playing field. I got a raise pretty quickly.

Gen X here …

Current score: 0 (to vote for this comment, please visit the site)

]]> By: things http://queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/comment-page-1/#comment-126717 things Sun, 11 May 2008 17:42:05 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/#comment-126717 PS: I'm in my late 20s (and some of the people at my work have been there since I was 4 or 5 years old, but they only earn about 60% of what I now earn--why?).<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-126717">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> PS: I’m in my late 20s (and some of the people at my work have been there since I was 4 or 5 years old, but they only earn about 60% of what I now earn–why?).

Current score: 0 (to vote for this comment, please visit the site)

]]> By: things http://queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/comment-page-1/#comment-126716 things Sun, 11 May 2008 17:38:52 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/#comment-126716 I don't mind telling people how much I make as long as I don't think it would make them feel bad or judge me. My income used to be below poverty level, but now it is about 40% of the median income. So I still make very little, and to some people that makes me unimportant, but I do make more than many of the people I work with. It's hard to complain that I don't have enough money to pay for a nice place of my own when my coworkers make much less than I do. It probably sounds like I am really irresponsible if I can't make ends meet with the hundreds and hundreds of dollars I make each year. I think it will always be hard for people to really openly discuss salary unless we have a sweeping societal change that manages to eliminate the correlation between salary and human value. Even then it would still be difficult: We're exchanging our lives, hour by hour, for money, and finding that my hours are only worth $14 apiece, but my best friend's hours are worth $30, is not a pleasant realization. I work just as hard, or harder, but I get less--why?! Because my work is less important? Because I'm replaceable? It's a huge thing to talk about. I can see why people want to avoid it.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-126716">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> I don’t mind telling people how much I make as long as I don’t think it would make them feel bad or judge me. My income used to be below poverty level, but now it is about 40% of the median income. So I still make very little, and to some people that makes me unimportant, but I do make more than many of the people I work with. It’s hard to complain that I don’t have enough money to pay for a nice place of my own when my coworkers make much less than I do. It probably sounds like I am really irresponsible if I can’t make ends meet with the hundreds and hundreds of dollars I make each year.

I think it will always be hard for people to really openly discuss salary unless we have a sweeping societal change that manages to eliminate the correlation between salary and human value. Even then it would still be difficult: We’re exchanging our lives, hour by hour, for money, and finding that my hours are only worth $14 apiece, but my best friend’s hours are worth $30, is not a pleasant realization. I work just as hard, or harder, but I get less–why?! Because my work is less important? Because I’m replaceable? It’s a huge thing to talk about. I can see why people want to avoid it.

Current score: 0 (to vote for this comment, please visit the site)

]]> By: dima http://queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/comment-page-1/#comment-125143 dima Sun, 04 May 2008 17:05:05 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/#comment-125143 DivaJean - bravo! They feed us the same thing at work, I might just have to ask them for the data this time around :) Sarah - your arguments are nothing new and that's what this post is all about. Me - mid 20s, graduated last year with a masters degree in engineering field, work for a high-tech company in midwest with salary in mid 60s. I busted my behind all these years in college and I don't feel bad talking about this. Only one of my friends in refused to talk about his offer, everyone else was even more open than myself.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-125143">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> DivaJean – bravo! They feed us the same thing at work, I might just have to ask them for the data this time around :)
Sarah – your arguments are nothing new and that’s what this post is all about.
Me – mid 20s, graduated last year with a masters degree in engineering field, work for a high-tech company in midwest with salary in mid 60s. I busted my behind all these years in college and I don’t feel bad talking about this. Only one of my friends in refused to talk about his offer, everyone else was even more open than myself.

Current score: 0 (to vote for this comment, please visit the site)

]]> By: Nina http://queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/comment-page-1/#comment-124805 Nina Fri, 02 May 2008 13:52:24 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/#comment-124805 <strong>DivaJean:</strong> I like that: "right sizing" your salary. Good for you!!<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-124805">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> DivaJean: I like that: “right sizing” your salary. Good for you!!

Current score: 0 (to vote for this comment, please visit the site)

]]> By: DivaJean http://queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/comment-page-1/#comment-124593 DivaJean Thu, 01 May 2008 14:41:12 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/#comment-124593 Gen Xer here. I have no qualms about sharing my salary and feel that sharing information leads to power. I work where it is taboo to share salary information- in fact, when we are hired, we are supposed to sign off on never sharing salary information. When I joined on, I refused to sign the statement. I basically was a real pain to the HR person involved- asking questions about how corporate agenda trumped freedom of speech in this instance, and how my tax person couldn't help me by my vow of silence and what implications this would have in budget planning with my partner (how can you budget when you can't talk about what you make?). Eventually, I wrote a statement on the paper advising that I was not necessarily going to comply with the rule due to my personal conviction. Fast forward a few years- the company was getting a lot of flack from nurses employed here (me included) that we were not making competitive wages. Supposedly, a market study was performed and HR with our immediate supervisor was to meet with each individual and review the results. I went in and was told that the study showed we were being compensated appropriately. I demanded to see the study results and to see the specific information as it applied to my job. Nothing could be produced, but they wanted me to sign off on my agreement. I again refused- wanting the data first. A week later, I was again brough into a room and suddenly I warranted a sizable raise-- supposedly further review of my job history against the "data" revealed need for right sizing my salary. "But please sign this statement!" To which I again constructed my own statement I would agree to-- that I had seen no true data, that I had no idea what they were basing the salary change on , etc. I have since told this story (its been about 5 years) to many co workers about the bill of goods they try to sell us about salaries. No one from the time it happened is even left to dispute how I got the hush money. This past Christmas time, I also made no bones about how p.o.'d I was that at 11 years at this company as a professional, my family qualified for Christmas Bureau food and gifts! Guess who got a decent enough raise this spring? 15% more cash, baby!<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-124593">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Gen Xer here. I have no qualms about sharing my salary and feel that sharing information leads to power.

I work where it is taboo to share salary information- in fact, when we are hired, we are supposed to sign off on never sharing salary information. When I joined on, I refused to sign the statement. I basically was a real pain to the HR person involved- asking questions about how corporate agenda trumped freedom of speech in this instance, and how my tax person couldn’t help me by my vow of silence and what implications this would have in budget planning with my partner (how can you budget when you can’t talk about what you make?). Eventually, I wrote a statement on the paper advising that I was not necessarily going to comply with the rule due to my personal conviction.

Fast forward a few years- the company was getting a lot of flack from nurses employed here (me included) that we were not making competitive wages. Supposedly, a market study was performed and HR with our immediate supervisor was to meet with each individual and review the results. I went in and was told that the study showed we were being compensated appropriately. I demanded to see the study results and to see the specific information as it applied to my job. Nothing could be produced, but they wanted me to sign off on my agreement. I again refused- wanting the data first. A week later, I was again brough into a room and suddenly I warranted a sizable raise– supposedly further review of my job history against the “data” revealed need for right sizing my salary. “But please sign this statement!” To which I again constructed my own statement I would agree to– that I had seen no true data, that I had no idea what they were basing the salary change on , etc.

I have since told this story (its been about 5 years) to many co workers about the bill of goods they try to sell us about salaries. No one from the time it happened is even left to dispute how I got the hush money.

This past Christmas time, I also made no bones about how p.o.’d I was that at 11 years at this company as a professional, my family qualified for Christmas Bureau food and gifts! Guess who got a decent enough raise this spring? 15% more cash, baby!

Current score: 0 (to vote for this comment, please visit the site)

]]> By: Nina http://queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/comment-page-1/#comment-124568 Nina Thu, 01 May 2008 12:33:08 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/#comment-124568 Interesting that this post happened to fall around payday. Ahhh... but we're not talking about that! Or are we?? I guess we are: thanks for all the excellent comments! A few things that caught my eye... <strong>AmyMo: </strong>Great point about it depending on the person doing the asking. I follow that general rule as well. I stopped telling one of my sisters how much I made because at the time she had given up her career to stay home with her young children and money was tight. I could tell she wasn't interested in hearing about my last commission check. <strong>Bethh: </strong>I agree that the co-worker scenario is tricky. I'm sure the mad/guilty part is why most employers discourage the practice of sharing amongst employees. <strong>Erica:</strong> I couldn't agree with you more about getting <a href="http://www.queercents.com/2007/09/12/wwyd-sponsoring-friends-in-charity-events/" rel="nofollow">hit up for the pet causes</a>! <strong>Serena: </strong>You make a good point about <a href="http://www.queercents.com/2007/11/12/under-earning-women-and-the-imposter-syndrome/" rel="nofollow">women and negotiating skills</a>. Knowledge is power and the more we know the value of our worth, the better we can negotiate fair compensation. <strong>A.J.:</strong> Funny story! That guy sounds like an a--hole. <strong>Roland: </strong>Love the "toothless" part! And I find it interesting that co-workers don't have any issue with trying to hit you up for loans. Hold on to that wallet!<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-124568">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Interesting that this post happened to fall around payday. Ahhh… but we’re not talking about that! Or are we?? I guess we are: thanks for all the excellent comments! A few things that caught my eye…

AmyMo: Great point about it depending on the person doing the asking. I follow that general rule as well. I stopped telling one of my sisters how much I made because at the time she had given up her career to stay home with her young children and money was tight. I could tell she wasn’t interested in hearing about my last commission check.

Bethh: I agree that the co-worker scenario is tricky. I’m sure the mad/guilty part is why most employers discourage the practice of sharing amongst employees.

Erica: I couldn’t agree with you more about getting hit up for the pet causes!

Serena: You make a good point about women and negotiating skills. Knowledge is power and the more we know the value of our worth, the better we can negotiate fair compensation.

A.J.: Funny story! That guy sounds like an a–hole.

Roland: Love the “toothless” part! And I find it interesting that co-workers don’t have any issue with trying to hit you up for loans. Hold on to that wallet!

Current score: 0 (to vote for this comment, please visit the site)

]]> By: FrugalZen http://queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/comment-page-1/#comment-124530 FrugalZen Thu, 01 May 2008 09:56:44 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/#comment-124530 Well I went back to work after retiring and its a unionised shop...in Florida..about as toothless as you can get. Everyone gets the same whether their good, bad, or indifferent...so most of them are indifferent. I went back to work for several reasons...Bored out of my Mind after 4 months. They have Health Insurance thats reasonable...(Hey!! I retired at 48 and I'm 51 now!!) and I'm a long way from Medicare.....And I have to have EARNED Income to keep putting money into the IRA's. Capital Gains, Interest, and Dividends are classed as UNEARNED Income as far as that goes. And don't get me started about a 401K...the toothless union left it on the table in the last contract negotiations and when I B*tch about getting one set up the company says see the union and the union says its up to the company....smells like a month old fish dipped in Limburger cheese to me. Anyway among the 60 or so that work at the particular location I'm assigned too I seem to be the most well off and I DON"T discuss what I'm worth but that hasn't stopped them from trying to hit on me for loans...it seems that just having a couple of hundred in the wallet is enough to set them sniffing around though they've finally gotten the hint that NO means NO!!!!!!. ~ Roland Tail end of the Boomer Gen.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-124530">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Well I went back to work after retiring and its a unionised shop…in Florida..about as toothless as you can get.

Everyone gets the same whether their good, bad, or indifferent…so most of them are indifferent.

I went back to work for several reasons…Bored out of my Mind after 4 months. They have Health Insurance thats reasonable…(Hey!! I retired at 48 and I’m 51 now!!) and I’m a long way from Medicare…..And I have to have EARNED Income to keep putting money into the IRA’s. Capital Gains, Interest, and Dividends are classed as UNEARNED Income as far as that goes.

And don’t get me started about a 401K…the toothless union left it on the table in the last contract negotiations and when I B*tch about getting one set up the company says see the union and the union says its up to the company….smells like a month old fish dipped in Limburger cheese to me.

Anyway among the 60 or so that work at the particular location I’m assigned too I seem to be the most well off and I DON”T discuss what I’m worth but that hasn’t stopped them from trying to hit on me for loans…it seems that just having a couple of hundred in the wallet is enough to set them sniffing around though they’ve finally gotten the hint that NO means NO!!!!!!.

~ Roland Tail end of the Boomer Gen.

Current score: 0 (to vote for this comment, please visit the site)

]]> By: May http://queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/comment-page-1/#comment-124478 May Thu, 01 May 2008 06:06:01 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/#comment-124478 I don't talk about my salary unless it's with my live in boyfriend or my best best friends and family. I just started working, and I'm only 24, so a lot of my friends have different professions and are just working. I feel we do not talk about our salaries, but we talk a lot about being broke. Being new grads, we are all struggling to survive the work force, and it's not about how much we make, but how we are surviving.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-124478">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> I don’t talk about my salary unless it’s with my live in boyfriend or my best best friends and family. I just started working, and I’m only 24, so a lot of my friends have different professions and are just working. I feel we do not talk about our salaries, but we talk a lot about being broke. Being new grads, we are all struggling to survive the work force, and it’s not about how much we make, but how we are surviving.

Current score: 0 (to vote for this comment, please visit the site)

]]> By: H http://queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/comment-page-1/#comment-124371 H Thu, 01 May 2008 01:01:33 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2008/04/30/how-much-money-do-you-make-%e2%80%9ci-make-a-big-enough-salary%e2%80%9d-she-said/#comment-124371 Gen X. I work for a big lawfirm and our compensation is public knowledge, as is for the major law firms around the country. So I got used to talking about income with work friends. I also don't mind giving this information to my parents and siblings, but with people other than co-workers and family members, I'm more discreet as I don't want want to seem rude.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-124371">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Gen X. I work for a big lawfirm and our compensation is public knowledge, as is for the major law firms around the country. So I got used to talking about income with work friends. I also don’t mind giving this information to my parents and siblings, but with people other than co-workers and family members, I’m more discreet as I don’t want want to seem rude.

Current score: 0 (to vote for this comment, please visit the site)

]]>