Should we talk about our salaries?

同事之间工资应该公开吗？

It's a touchy subject. Talking socially about money can make people feel uncomfortable. But at work, have a conversation about how much people earn, and things can not only get awkward, but, in some cases, it can get you sacked.

这是个敏感的话题。在社交场合谈论金钱会让人感到不舒服。但在工作中，如果你和同事讨论工资收入，事情不仅会变得尴尬，而且还有可能让你丢掉工作。

According to a survey by the Trades Union Congress, 1 in 5 workers "have been told they can't talk about their pay at work". This, concludes the TUC, indicates how common pay secrecy or 'gagging' clauses are in employment contracts. 'Pay secrecy clauses are a get out of jail free card for bad bosses,' said TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady. 'They stop workers from challenging unfair pay, allow top executives to hoard profits and encourage discrimination. More openness about wages is essential to building fairer workplaces.'

根据英国工会大会的一项调查，五分之一的工人“被告知不能在工作时谈论工资”。英国职工大会总结说，这说明了雇佣合同中薪资保密或“封口”条款是多么普遍。英国职工大会秘书长弗朗西丝·奥格雷迪指出，薪酬保密条款是坏老板的免责卡。他们阻止员工质疑不公平的薪酬，允许高管囤积利润，并鼓励歧视。提高工资透明度对于建设更公平的工作场所至关重要。

So, should we talk about how much we earn? It's not so simple. Even without the contractual obligations, people may still be reluctant. "I personally have found it's better not looking and not knowing," Tracy Jordan, an HR professional, told the BBC. "Even if you feel you are paid a fair wage, there will always be someone that you perceive is doing a lesser job and is earning more. Rather than feeling perpetually dissatisfied, I think ignorance can be bliss."

那么，我们应该谈谈我们的收入吗?事情没那么简单。即使没有合同义务，人们也可能不情愿这么做。人力资源专业人士特雷西?乔丹在接受BBC采访时表示:“我个人认为，不去看也不知道会更好。”“即使你觉得自己得到了公平的薪水，总有一些人在你眼里做的工作比你少，挣的却比你多。与其永远感到不满意，我认为无知也可以是福。”

Money is tied up with complex emotions, Brianna McGurran, a money expert at the personal finance blog NerdWallet, told the New York Times. It involves emotions like shame, success and fear of failure. It also influences how people view you. People's money is tied to their self-worth. As a result, culturally, it can be bit of a taboo.

个人理财博客NerdWallet的理财专家布丽安娜· 麦古兰在接受《纽约时报》采访时表示，金钱与复杂的情绪息息相关。它包含了羞耻、成功和对失败的恐惧等情绪。它也会影响人们对你的看法。人们的金钱与他们的自我价值息息相关。因此，从文化层面上来说，这可能是一种禁忌。

But all that may change. First of all, pay secrecy clauses are unenforceable in the UK due to the UK Equality Act 2010. An employee must always be able to find out if they are being discriminated against in terms of pay. In addition, The European Union is considering new legislation on pay transparency in order to reduce gender pay, earnings and pension gaps. So, for better or worse it may be something we all have to get used to. Over time, talking about our salaries may become just another matter for small talk.