salary disclosure

[msenner]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? Minnesota

I work for a small privately owned company, in a professional position.

While doing research for a project, I came across a file out on my company's computer share drive that contains explicit information about salary and projected raises for myself and my co-workers.

I have 2 issues with this:

First, that confidential information like this is out on our share drive for all to see.

Second, that I am being paid $10,000 less than my co-worker, who has less experience than I do, has been with the company only one year longer than I have, and has the same job description that I have.

Do I have any legal recourse regarding either of these issues?

 

[cbg]

None whatsoever.

First of all, no law requires that salary information be keep confidential. While it is a good idea for many reasons, failure to do so does not violate any laws.'

Secondly, nothing whatsoever in the law requires that all employees with the same job description be paid the same amount. The fact that the other individual has been with the company longer than you is, by itself, sufficient legal reason for her/him to be paid more than you. The law only specifices that you cannot be paid less BECAUSE OF your gender, race, national origin etc. It does not say that you can't be paid less because of your tenure with the company, experience, skill set, market rate at the time of hire, or your salary negotiating skills.