Can you be fired for telling someone your wage?

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Can you be fired for telling someone your wage?

I recently worked at a restaurant as a cook. I had a co-worker ask me how much I made and I

told them the amount. They then told me how much they made. Days later, my assistant

manager and I were talking and the topic of his pay came up after I was asking what I would make if I became a manager. He told me his wage and what I would make. Fast forward a week and I got called into the office to be notified that I was being released since some people were upset as to how much I made. My GM then said that I cannot share my wage as it is an

automatic termination. She then told me about a rumor she misheard about me. She proceeded to fire me over telling someone how much I make. Yet the co-worker and my assistant manager will not be getting in trouble even though they shared their wages. So was

this a legal action?

Asked on May 7, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Florida

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 7 years ago | Contributor

Most employment is what is called "at will". This means that an employer can fire an employee for the reason that you gave, or for any reason, or for no reason at all (with or without notice). This is true so long as the employee's treatment is not the result of legally actionable discrimination or the employer's action does not violate the terms of a union agreement, employment contract or company policy. Bottom line, most employers can set the conditions of the workplace much as it sees fit or deems appropriate.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

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