Fair Pay Concerns

[employeerights]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Atlanta, GA

I work for a company that will post our Pay Grades but will not post the Salary Ranges for each Grade. When an associate got a hold of the pay grade/scale sheet we found out that most of us were not even at the minimum pay range for the FSLA grade we are currently in.

When speaking to HR about it, a TownHall meeting was held and we were told that if we were heard discussing our salary grades/pay at work that we would suffer consequences that could lead to termination.

Now I know discussing ones salary is a private matter but to lose your job over it did not sound right to me (??) Because I am unfamiliar with all of Georgia's employment laws I searched the web but could not find whether this was okay or not.

If we do not know the pay range for our own grade how is one to know if we are being paid fairly? Clearly based on the market we are underpaid but by the company's own salary grade/range is a slap in the face. Is there anything we can do about it with fear of retaliation or loosing our jobs??

Any and all feedback that you can provide i appreciated...

[cbg]

You have two separate issues here.

1.) The law does not care one whit about pay grades, salary ranges or pay increases. The law cares about one thing and one thing only; are you being paid according to law? If you are earning the higher of state or Federal minimum wage and being paid time and a half when you work more than 40 hours a week, that is the ONLY thing the law cares about.

2.) Discussing wages with your co-workers is a legally protected right. You cannot legally be fired for discussing your wages. Call the NLRB if any adverse action is taken against you for such a discussion.