For the record, I don't think it should necessarily be posted everywhere what salaries are (even though I do in fact believe that would be net positive), however I think the culture around salary discussion needs to change. People need to not be offended by the question (you can of course deny the information).
As I mention in a comment below. Compare this to other transactions: if grocery stores convinced everyone that the price of eggs was a very personal matter, and impolite to share, such that I couldn't ask you "hey how much did you get those eggs for at the store?", then they could absolutely start charging incredibly variable rates. All of a sudden you'd need to do your research on "market egg rates" and "egg negotiation tactics". You have to know your stuff to make a good case for spending 5 bucks on those eggs. This happens today with car dealerships and any bart-based system, where of course the seller has much more information than the buyer.
So too your boss has much more information than you during a salary negotiation. He knows if your proposed salary raise is bogus because he can compare you to similar performers, you can't. You have no idea if the raise he offered you is good or 10% what everyone else is getting. If after raises were handed out everyone shared them with each other, I ASSURE you they'd at the very least make sure that the people that deserved good raises got it.
As I mention in a comment below. Compare this to other transactions: if grocery stores convinced everyone that the price of eggs was a very personal matter, and impolite to share, such that I couldn't ask you "hey how much did you get those eggs for at the store?", then they could absolutely start charging incredibly variable rates. All of a sudden you'd need to do your research on "market egg rates" and "egg negotiation tactics". You have to know your stuff to make a good case for spending 5 bucks on those eggs. This happens today with car dealerships and any bart-based system, where of course the seller has much more information than the buyer.
So too your boss has much more information than you during a salary negotiation. He knows if your proposed salary raise is bogus because he can compare you to similar performers, you can't. You have no idea if the raise he offered you is good or 10% what everyone else is getting. If after raises were handed out everyone shared them with each other, I ASSURE you they'd at the very least make sure that the people that deserved good raises got it.