Why Companies Should Be Open About Pay

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1. 01Why Companies Should Be Open About Pay

   Good morning. I'm a union representative in Dublin. In many workplaces, talking about pay is still seen as rude or even forbidden. Today, I'll argue that companies should be much more open about what they pay.

   早上好。我是都柏林的一名工会代表。在很多工作场所，谈论工资仍然被认为是不礼貌的，甚至是被禁止的。今天，我要论证的是：公司应该对自己支付的工资更加公开透明。

2. 02Europe Is Moving This Way

   This isn't just my idea. In 2023, the European Union adopted the Pay Transparency Directive. Member countries had to turn it into national law by June 7, 2026.

   这不只是我个人的想法。2023年，欧盟通过了《薪酬透明度指令》。成员国必须在2026年6月7日之前把它转化为本国法律。

   Source: Directive (EU) 2023/970 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Pay Transparency Directive), EUR-Lex

3. 03What the Rules Say

   Under this directive, job applicants have the right to know the starting pay or pay range, for example in the job ad or before the interview. Employers can't ask about your pay history, and contracts can't stop workers from sharing their pay.

   根据这项指令，求职者有权了解起薪或薪资范围，比如在招聘广告中或面试之前。雇主不能询问你过去的薪资情况，劳动合同也不能禁止员工透露自己的工资。

   Source: Directive (EU) 2023/970, Articles 5 and 7, EUR-Lex

4. 04Reason 1: Hidden Pay Hides Unfairness

   Why does this matter? Because you can't fix a problem you can't see. If pay is secret, two people doing the same job can be paid very differently, and neither of them will know.

   为什么这很重要？因为你无法解决一个看不见的问题。如果工资是保密的，两个做同样工作的人拿到的工资可能差别很大，而他们谁都不会知道。

5. 05Reason 2: Fairer Negotiations

   Second, openness makes negotiation fairer. Today, confident people, or people with good connections, often know what to ask for. With a published range, everyone starts with the same information.

   第二，公开透明能让薪资谈判更公平。现在，有自信的人或者人脉广的人，往往知道该要多少。有了公开的薪资范围，每个人都能从同样的信息起步。

6. 06Reason 3: Trust

   Third, openness builds trust. When a company explains how pay is decided, workers worry less about secret deals and focus more on their work.

   第三，公开透明能建立信任。当公司说明工资是怎么决定的，员工就不会那么担心有暗箱操作，而能更专注于工作。

7. 07"But It Will Cause Jealousy"

   Some people say openness will cause jealousy. I'd say jealousy mostly appears when differences can't be explained. If a company has clear, fair reasons for its pay, it shouldn't be afraid to share them.

   有人说公开会引起嫉妒。我想说，嫉妒大多出现在差别无法解释的时候。如果一家公司的薪酬有清楚、公平的理由，就不应该害怕把它们说出来。

8. 08Conclusion

   To conclude, the EU has shown that pay transparency can be written into law. Fair pay has nothing to hide. Let's stop treating salaries as a secret. Thank you.

   最后，欧盟已经证明，薪酬透明可以写进法律。公平的工资没有什么好隐藏的。让我们不要再把薪水当作秘密了。谢谢大家。

   Source: Directive (EU) 2023/970 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Pay Transparency Directive), EUR-Lex