There are some things that coworkers shouldn’t ask each other about. It’s usually a good rule of thumb not to discuss politics, religion, or s*x too thoroughly with the people you have to spend 40 hours a week with. Heck, I don’t even want to know the in-depth political compass of someone I only spend 10 hours a week with. After all, you’re not there to make friends. You’re there to be America’s Next Top Marketing and Communications Representative. 

While knowing those details about your coworkers probably won’t do you much good, there is another forbidden conversation that can actually help employees progress in their careers. Finding out how much money your coworkers make could, at its worst, breed resentment. At its best, it can empower workers to ask for the money that they deserve. One worker was told by their manager that discussing these matters is not allowed, so they took it straight to HR.