Fired over discussing salary with co-workers?

[Natalala]

Started a new at-will job today for a doctor's office, asked coworkers what their start pay was so I can compare to make sure I'm paid fairly, nobody answered and boss found out I asked and I believe my boss is firing me tomorrow or may reduce my pay, since my boss called me after work saying "maybe you should not work here" because of it. Are either illegal for my boss to do? Working in IL.

 

[justalayman]

Natalala, you were asked for your state for a reason.

Never mind. I found it st the bottom

 

[FlyingRon]

Perfectly legal (either to fire you or reduce your pay as long as you're getting the minimum wage).

By the way, there's no obligation that the company pay someone in any particular relationship to what other employees are making.

 

[Natalala]

Perfectly legal (either to fire you or reduce your pay as long as you're getting the minimum wage).

By the way, there's no obligation that the company pay someone in any particular relationship to what other employees are making.

Yes I'm glad to say I know, there's no obligation for a company to do so, but I just believe in fairness for myself and others (not that it matters to the question). So out of asking, I would be able to confront the boss, or coworkers who are paid unfairly out of my discussion with them, and ask them why Johnny Doe had no experience and started out higher, or Susie Q has more experience but started out less.

 

[justalayman]

Perfectly legal (either to fire you or reduce your pay as long as you're getting the minimum wage).

By the way, there's no obligation that the company pay someone in any particular relationship to what other employees are making.

What about (820 ILCS 112/10)
Sec. 10. Prohibited acts.

 

[cbg]

Yes I'm glad to say I know, there's no obligation for a company to do so, but I just believe in fairness for myself and others (not that it matters to the question). So out of asking, I would be able to confront the boss, or coworkers who are paid unfairly out of my discussion with them, and ask them why Johnny Doe had no experience and started out higher, or Susie Q has more experience but started out less.

If you want to be fired, that's a really, really good way to go about it.

 

[justalayman]

Yes I'm glad to say I know, there's no obligation for a company to do so, but I just believe in fairness for myself and others (not that it matters to the question). So out of asking, I would be able to confront the boss, or coworkers who are paid unfairly out of my discussion with them, and ask them why Johnny Doe had no experience and started out higher, or Susie Q has more experience but started out less.

I can't find any reason this wouldn't apply to you;

(b) It is unlawful for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of or the attempt to exercise any right provided under this Act. It is unlawful for any employer to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any individual for inquiring about, disclosing, comparing, or otherwise discussing the employee's wages or the wages of any other employee, or aiding or encouraging any person to exercise his or her rights under this Act.

But confronting the boss as you suggest is way beyond acceptable and is not protected activity. It is not your place to determine whether a person's pay is fair and confronting anybody when you have no legal right to represent others is a very acceptable reason to fire you.

 

[cbg]

An new employee comes in and on the very first day, starts questioning other employees about their pay and then goes to the boss to complain how unfair the pay process is.

You truly think that's a good idea?

Whether the NLRB would agree with jal that your questioning the other employees about their pay is protected, is open to debate. While I don't disagree that it could apply, as I recall there were some fairly strictly defined limits as to what was and was not protected and I don't think we have enough information here to say if what you did falls within those limits or not.

But this: So out of asking, I would be able to confront the boss, or coworkers who are paid unfairly out of my discussion with them, and ask them why Johnny Doe had no experience and started out higher, or Susie Q has more experience but started out less is in no way protected, is outrageously inappropriate, and I would expect you to be fired on the spot. I can promise you that the NLRB would have no problems whatsoever with that firing.

 

[adjusterjack]

Yes I'm glad to say I know, there's no obligation for a company to do so, but I just believe in fairness for myself and others (not that it matters to the question). So out of asking, I would be able to confront the boss, or coworkers who are paid unfairly out of my discussion with them, and ask them why Johnny Doe had no experience and started out higher, or Susie Q has more experience but started out less.

You're very naive about how work works.

Did you just finish high school?

 

[Natalala]

No, have worked as an assistant medical manager for several years.

Anyway, if I feel like my case is on my side, who do I report this incident to? And also can I have this brought in court for any sort of compensation or for something I gain for myself or the employees at that company?

 

[adjusterjack]

It isn't.
Nobody.
You'll lose in court.

 

[Natalala]

I hope to find out what I can do from here for myself and coworkers. Wonder if downtown has an office that is there for work places not following laws.

 

[justalayman]

To file a complaint under the law I posted you contact the Illinois department of labor. I didn't see anything that would enrich the employee

 

[FlyingRon]

What about (820 ILCS 112/10)
Sec. 10. Prohibited acts.

What about it. It doesn't require that all employees be paid the same. It just says you can discriminate salaries based on sex.

 

[justalayman]

What about it. It doesn't require that all employees be paid the same. It just says you can discriminate salaries based on sex.

It says you cannot be penalized for discussing your wages