Top post in reddit the other day was a guy who was forced to supply a pay slip from this current job to apply for a new job at a different company. So he edited it to reflect himself earning 20% more, and viola the new company offered him a job at just over that inflated salary. What a coincidence!In...1935.
The Law | National Labor Relations Board
National Labor Relations Act In 1935, Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), making clear that it is the policy of the United States to encourage collective bargaining by protecting workers’ full freedom of association. The NLRA protects workplace democracy by providing...www.nlrb.gov
Section 7 deals with the right to freely share salary information for "mutual aid". That doesn't mean employers haven't fucked people over for doing it anyway. But in those places that have strong government backed labor boards (such as Texas' TWC) they only can get away with it insofar as someone won't file a complaint. With the coming of the internet, people have learned more and more how to find their rights online, and this kind of thing is becoming a lot less of an issue...at least at the places I've worked. NRLA doesn't cover government contractors/employees, but Obama signed an executive order basically giving them that same freedom.
What I really like as a recent trend are the states' laws coming out that prevent potential employers asking about your previous salary. That, for me, was one of the biggest barriers to career growth. Apply for a job where the company is willing to pay 75K, but you only make 55K? They're gonna offer you 60, max. Now, since a lot of employers can't ask that any longer, companies have to be willing to offer you what the job is worth, instead of offering you a tiny enticement bump over your previous salary.
And, of course, there's an Adam Ruins Everything about it.
That said, discussing salaries, and giving access to a salary database are arguably two different things.
1935, hmm maybe I am thinking of the Obama EO then.