Finance expert Vivian Tu, known online as Your Rich BFF, is urging people in their 20s to talk about money with friends and colleagues. Appearing on the Great Company podcast with Jamie Lang, she shared how discussing salaries in the workplace helped her and a co-worker both get pay rises.
How a Salary Conversation Led to a Raise
In one of her first jobs, Vivian wanted to ask for a raise but wasn't sure if the salary she had in mind was realistic. Ahead of her end-of-year review, she asked an older, more experienced colleague what she was earning. The colleague was hesitant at first but agreed to share the figure as long as her name was kept out of it.
Vivian went into the review, laid out everything she had achieved, and asked for a raise commensurate with her accomplishments—the same figure her colleague had disclosed. Her request was granted, and she quickly informed her colleague so she could also ask for more money. Both ended up getting exactly what they asked for.
Is It Legal to Discuss Salaries at Work?
Amanda Augustine, careers expert at Careerminds UK, advises checking your contract and company policies before discussing salaries. Some organisations have confidentiality clauses, but in the UK, employees have legal protections when discussing pay to uncover potential discrimination.
Section 77 of the Equality Act 2010 states that employers cannot enforce terms that restrict discussions about pay if the purpose is to discover whether discrimination has occurred. The business legal team at Sprint Law explains that an employee is protected if they ask, share, or compare pay information to check if a difference might be linked to a protected characteristic like sex, race, disability, age, religion, or belief. The employee doesn't need to prove discrimination actually occurred—only that the purpose was to find out if it might have.
How to Approach Salary Conversations
Augustine recommends having these conversations with people you trust. Explain why you're asking, whether for a pay review or to check if your salary is competitive. If they aren't comfortable sharing, respect their decision.
She also notes that colleagues' salaries are only one piece of the puzzle. Differences can be due to experience, skills, tenure, performance, or market conditions. Focus on the value you bring and use the information to sense-check the figure you're asking for.
Tips for Asking Your Boss for a Raise
Nick Goldberg, CEO of coaching company Ezra, shares advice on asking for a pay rise. Know your worth using salary comparison websites, recruitment agencies, and HR departments. Timing is key—ask after a success, like completing a big project. Be confident, precise, and give your boss a heads-up, perhaps by requesting a performance review.
Be realistic and prepared to negotiate. If the answer is no, ask for other benefits like a senior title, extra holiday days, or development opportunities. If the decision seems unreasonable, consider looking elsewhere.
