Can I Discuss My Pay With Coworkers?

Many employers tell workers not to talk about pay — and many workers assume that is the rule. For most private-sector employees, it is the opposite: discussing your pay is a protected right.

What the Law Says

Under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, employees have the right to engage in “concerted activity” — acting together about pay and working conditions. Talking with coworkers about how much you make is squarely protected. You can discuss wages in person, by phone, or in writing.

Because of that, “pay secrecy” policies are illegal. A rule that forbids discussing wages — or even an informal practice where supervisors discourage it — is unlawful under the NLRA. And it is illegal for an employer to punish, threaten, interrogate, or surveil you for discussing pay.

An Everyday Example

You and a coworker compare salaries and realize you are paid less for the same work. Sharing that, and raising it together with your boss, is protected concerted activity — your employer cannot lawfully discipline either of you for the conversation.

The Limits

The NLRA covers most private-sector employees, but not everyone — it generally does not cover supervisors, public-sector employees, agricultural and domestic workers, or independent contractors, who may be governed by other laws. (Separately, many states also have their own pay-transparency laws that protect these discussions.)

What This Means for You

For most workers, talking with coworkers about pay is a right, not a violation — and a policy banning it is the actual violation. If you are punished for discussing wages, you can file a charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).