The law takes a step that is completely unique: it prohibits employers from asking prospective hires about their salary histories until after they make a job offer that includes compensation, unless the applicants voluntarily disclose the information. No other state has such a ban in place.
[...] The new law also bans salary secrecy, blocking employers from keeping their employees from talking about pay with each other. About half of all employees say they are either prohibited or discouraged from discussing compensation, even though they have a legal right to do so.
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/08/01/massachusetts-equal-pay-comparable-work-baker-bill/
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2016/08/01/3803836/massachusetts-equal-pay/
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Justin Case on Wednesday August 03 2016, @11:54AM
consider it a signal that you don't want to work there like a canary in a coal mine
Bingo!
I've heard never disclose salary; you can only hurt yourself. And that's been my approach to every job opportunity, and it has worked out OK.
Also in negotiating any price, the first one to name a certain number loses. (I would be willing to agree at $XXXX.) Sometimes, if they really want you, you can get them to name not just the first number but the second! "I'm authorized to make you an offer of $A." "But you can do better, right?" "Well, the midpoint is $B and we never bring anyone in above the midpoint." "Yeah, I'll be needing at least $B + $C." "Done."
A lot of employers have filters, that prevent certain prospective employees from applying. Like, we won't consider you without salary history. This ensures they don't get the best, only those who penetrate the filters. Another example: some computer security jobs require you to do insecure stuff to submit your application. Fail!
All of this bullshit is a clear sign that you would be working with idiots. Run away.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 03 2016, @05:37PM
Also in negotiating any price, the first one to name a certain number loses.
That is not what they teach in business classes. The "anchoring" effect will cause the second person to negotiate closer to the first named value. Also, related to this is the "door in the face" selling strategy that takes advantage of the anchoring effect.
You might have your own negotiating strategy that works best for you (obviously refined through experience), but others less experienced should probably use simpler strategies that are based on cognitive biases and backed-up by research.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchoring#Anchoring_in_negotiations [wikipedia.org]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Door-in-the-face_technique [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 2) by PocketSizeSUn on Thursday August 04 2016, @12:25AM
Agreed.
But for the unskilled negotiator the rule of thumb applies. He he speaks first ... lost.
For the skilled negotiator and different the poker rules apply ...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 03 2016, @09:21PM
I am curious, what is $C in your calcuation?
Benefits, financial or otherwise?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 03 2016, @09:58PM
I am curious, what is $C in your calcuation?
Benefits, financial or otherwise?
It's a blowjob. It would take a complete idiot to sign a contract without getting your industry-standard blowjob first.