Staff 'should be told what their colleagues earn', says PSOE
Friday, September 15, 2017 @ 8:44 AM
EMPLOYEES should have the right to know what all their colleagues in their company earn, the opposition socialists (PSOE) in Spain's government says.
According to Pedro Sánchez, leader of the left-wing party and the reigning PP's main rival, being able to find out whether your salary is the same as everyone else's who does the same job would help close the gender pay gap which, experts believe, continues to exist across Europe even in its wealthiest and most-developed nations.
It would also prevent favouritism, such as relatives or friends of the boss earning more for the same work; 'bribes' to key staff members in the way of pay rises to make them stay with the company, and stop companies from paying certain employees less money on the grounds of health, having taken maternity leave, or even personality clashes.
Whilst it is likely that the vast majority of companies pay staff on a set scale according to their role and relevant skills, qualifications and experience rather than any other factors, and that there are sound, professional and above-board reasons for different salary levels or productivity bonuses, it is also likely that a small number of employers whose practices are less fair slip through the net.
Staff would have to make a formal request to their boss or HR department if the move became law – they would not automatically be told.
Although this information would not be allowed to be circulated outside the company, it would not be anonymous, either: lists of staff and their pay would include their full names so they could be identified by their colleagues.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com