Recently, I was chatting with a friend about a job I interviewed for, and he casually asked me what the salary was.
It really caught me off guard — to me, that felt quite rude. There are so many reasons why someone might not feel comfortable sharing that information. And if I thought it was important or relevant to the conversation, I would’ve mentioned it, without being asked.
Later, I brought it up with a few other friends, and the reactions were mixed.
Some agreed that it was a bit intrusive and unnecessary to ask.
But others felt that, especially during a cost-of-living crisis, being open about salaries is important — that there’s no reason to be secretive, and that normalizing these conversations helps everyone.
I get that there’s no one “right” answer here. Everyone has different comfort levels, and ultimately, it’s about knowing your own boundaries and respecting others.
Still, I’m curious — how do you handle salary talk with friends? Is it something you’re open about, or do you consider it a private matter?