Tell HN: Salary data is for sale

Article summary

Equifax is selling salary data as part of an employment verification solution, which can be accessed through their website. The data includes previous annual salary, paycheck amounts, and addresses. Employees can view their report and may be able to remove their data via the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The data is provided by employers or payroll companies like ADP in exchange for access to the database.

Main themes

• salary data
• employment verification
• negotiation strategies
• wage suppression
• data privacy
• career development

What commenters say

• Some argue that employers provide salary data to Equifax in exchange for services like employee verification, while others believe payroll companies like ADP may be the source.
• The availability of salary data can lead to lower offers and suppressed wages, as employers can use the service to verify candidate claims.
• Others argue that candidates should not reveal their previous salary and instead negotiate based on their worth to the new employer.
• Some commenters believe that switching jobs is not the best time to ask for a raise, and that more leverage can be gained after proving value to the company.
• It is suggested that candidates can use the existence of this service to their advantage by saying 'I'm sure you have that information already' when asked about their previous salary.
• There is disagreement over whether it is possible to get a significant raise within a company without threatening to quit or having a competing offer.
• Some argue that middle managers are limited in their ability to approve raises, while others believe that it is possible to negotiate with higher-ups or find alternative solutions.