My coworker asked me how much do i get paid. i don't want to tell him. how can i polietly avoid the subject ?

Question

I don't want to come out too strong and blunt and neither do i wan't him to keep pushing me in one way or another to find out my salary.

Answer 1

I think you have some good advice here but need to combine it. I'd start with a joke or something light hearted...like "not enough" or "enough to pay my bills, well a few of them." If they don't let it go, I'd say in a very friendly tone "maybe I'm old fashioned but my Dad always taught me to never talk salaries or politics at work, and guess it got drummed in to me. Thanks for respecting that I just don't go there." That kind of shuts a door, unless the person is a real jerk. Of course you may need to edit so it's in your words. But I'd be prepared with something like that, that sounds like you.

And if the person keep pushing, I'd turn it back around and say, again nicely, "hey JoeBlow, I don't get why you can't respect I just don't feel comfortable talking about it...it's nothing personal, just something I don't do, not even when they ask that question on survey's." I would hope that would do it and they'd move on to someone else.

What I wouldn't do is tell a lie, like your employer instructed you not to tell...then it looks like they are hiding something, or trying to. And if it gets back to the boss, you might end up looking like the bad guy. No need to lie...just handle it with some good humor and politely refuse to answer.

Answer 2

Most companies have strict polices on this. Some states have also passed laws ageist reveling pay. Just tell your co-worker you like your pay very much and wish to keep it. The risk of losing it is to high, if they want to know where they are compared to their peers, then they should talk to the company HR dept. HR is able to show them where they are in the salary curve without showing any names.

Answer 3

I have the same issue at work. I work in a tipped industry and I have co workers that think what I make is their business. I always respond the same way, "I do alright." If they ask what's alright, I tell them, "It's enough." If they don't understand by that point that I'm not going to tell them how much I make I will tell them it's none of their business.

Answer 4

Honestly, its no one else's business how much you get paid except for you and your boss. No one else needs to know. I've always stuck to that theory. I make an exception to the rule by telling my parents how much money I make. That's no big deal.

As for telling your coworker - tell them that its personal and you dont care to discuss your salary with them.

Answer 5

You dont have to worry about being to blunt after all he was blunt for asking you in the first place. Just tell him that it is confidential and you don't want to get in trouble for talking about it.

Answer 6

Laugh, and give a non-committal reply, something like, "Not enough, just like you", or, "Somewhere between 'Halfway House' and 'Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous'."

If you're pressed, laugh again and tell them your mama always told you it was tacky to talk about money. That always shuts them up - no one wants to be thought of as tacky.

Answer 7

tell him that you were instructed by your boss that individual salaries are not public information. Your boss asked you not to share it.

This way you don't have to tell him bluntly but he should respect that you don't want to get in trouble.

Answer 8

Just tell them that you prefer not to discus that... I mean after all does it really matter? You work for what you get. Plus, honestly it isn't anyones business but yours.

Answer 9

Be broad with your answer - don't give any facts or figures. Tell him something like "I get paid enough" or the like.

Answer 10

i would tell him lets go to the boss and you can ask me in front of the boss the same question.