“Show me yours and I’ll show you mine.” That’s a popular stance amongst Gen X and Gen Y in today’s workforce when it comes to revealing salary. Boomers, however, tend to keep their salaries shrouded in secrecy. Regardless of the year you were born, this Website, which reveals the salaries of almost EVERY New York State worker, is the subject of heated debate at Jobacle HQ.
The goal of SeeThroughNY, the site which is taking salary reveals to a whole new level, is to give “New Yorkers a clearer view of how their state and local tax dollars are spent.” Simply select the branch of government, enter the agency/area in which they work and punch in their full name (you will need to get the exact spelling that appears on their payroll).
Voila. You will be presented with ’07 and ’08 payroll data. And it’s accurate…to the penny.
I just spent the last hour looking up the salaries of almost everyone I know. The database is comprised of over 263,000 employees.
On one hand, I understand why this information is made public. As tax paying citizens, it is only fair that we know where our money is being spent, and that includes personnel. But should salaries be exposed for New York workers at all levels? It’s one thing to know what the mayor or police commissioner earns, it’s another thing entirely when it’s your next door neighbor who is holding down a clerical gig.
Students can search their teachers. Criminals can search their arresting officer. From the United Nations to toll collectors, if you’re interested in what civil servants around New York state are earning – get searching!
Do you feel this is an invasion of privacy? How would you feel if YOUR salary was made public. I for one, would not be thrilled. But then again, I’m not enjoying a fat pension plan compliments of the local municipality.
The movement towards salary transparency is gaining steam. Look for the site to add more salaries soon.
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