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知道同事的工资是好事吗？
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知道同事的工资是好事吗？
你的同事们挣多少钱？在一些国家，比如挪威，你可以通过查看个人整体纳税和收入的公开记录而猜个八九不离十。 
双语精读
The pros and cons of greater pay transparency
提高薪资透明度的利与弊
How much do your colleagues get paid? In a few countries, such as Norway, you can take a good guess by looking at public records on individuals' overall tax payments and income. But in most places, finding out people's salaries means asking them what they earn. And that is about as socially acceptable as saying "What an ugly baby."
你的同事们挣多少钱？在一些国家，比如挪威，你可以通过查看个人整体纳税和收入的公开记录而猜个八九不离十。但是在大多数地方，想弄清楚人们的工资意味着要询问他们挣多少钱。而问出这句话就像说出“这孩子真丑”一样，在社交上是不可接受的。
Norms of privacy and secrecy around income help explain why legislators who fret about unfair pay differentials increasingly require greater transparency.
围绕收入的隐私和保密社会规范有助于解释，为什么那些担心不公平薪酬差异的立法者越来越要求提高透明度。
Few jurisdictions are as radical as the Scandinavians, but more and more of them are mandating that firms disclose gender (and other) wage gaps, publish pay ranges on job adverts or refrain from asking about applicants' prior earnings.
很少有司法管辖区像斯堪的纳维亚各国那样激进，但越来越多的国家要求公司披露性别（和其他方面的）工资差距、在招聘广告上公布薪资范围，或避免询问求职者以前的收入。
New transparency laws take effect in Illinois, Minnesota and Vermont this year; an EU directive is due to come into force in 2026. A recent review into the effects of all this sunlight reveals a mixed picture.
伊利诺伊州、明尼苏达州和佛蒙特州的透明度新法于今年生效，欧盟的一项指令也将于2026年生效。最近关于所有这些透明度政策的影响的一项审查表明，结果喜忧参半。
Greater transparency about what people in similar jobs are earning has helped close pay gaps between men and women. This is not because lower-paid employees were given big pay bumps, however, but because average wages were suppressed.
对于从事类似工作的人的薪资透明度提高有助于缩小男女之间的薪酬差距。但这并不是因为低薪员工获得了大幅加薪，而是因为平均工资被压低。
Transparency can also stoke motivation. A recent paper by Cédric Gutierrez of Bocconi University and his co-authors found that pay transparency among American academics increased the effort of those who were revealed to be overpaid. If you're earning a lot more than others, you'd better prove your worth.
透明度也可以激发动力。博科尼大学的塞德里克·古铁雷斯及其合著者最近发表的一篇论文发现，美国学术界的薪酬透明度让那些被发现薪酬过高的人工作更加努力。如果你赚得比别人多很多，那么你最好能证明自己值这么多钱。
As for wage disparities between bosses and those below them, you might imagine that gaps foster resentment. But they can also pique aspiration.
至于老板和下属之间的工资差距，你可能认为差距会滋生怨恨。但差距也能激发抱负。
Other research by Ms Cullen and Mr Perez-Truglia suggests that employees not only consistently underestimate how much managers earn but also work harder when they find out the rewards that promotion can bring.
卡伦和佩雷斯-特鲁利亚的其他研究表明，员工不仅一直低估管理者的收入，而且当他们发现晋升可以带来多少回报时，他们会工作更加努力。
Transparency makes it more important to get performance-based pay right. A recent paper by James Flynn of Miami University looked at what happened when the previously secret salaries of ice-hockey players in North America were published in the middle of the 1990 season.
透明度使得制定恰当的基于绩效的薪酬制度变得更加重要。迈阿密大学的詹姆斯·弗林最近发表的一篇论文研究了在1990年赛季期间，当北美冰球运动员之前保密的薪水被公布时发生了什么。
Underpaid players shifted their efforts towards scoring goals and providing assists, which were more highly rewarded than defensive contributions, to the detriment of their teams' performances as a whole.
薪酬较低的球员将努力转向了进球和提供助攻，这些比防守方面的贡献能得到更高的回报，而这种变化损害了球队的整体表现。
词汇预习
重点讲解
The pros and cons of greater pay transparency
提高薪资透明度的利与弊
transparency n. 透明；清楚
【例】The reforms will ensure greater transparency and accountability.
改革将确保更大程度的透明度和问责性。
【拓展】transparent adj. 透明的；清楚的
【反义词】opaque adj. 模糊的；隐晦的
How much do your colleagues get paid? In a few countries, such as Norway, you can take a good guess by looking at public records on individuals’ overall tax payments and income. But in most places, finding out people’s salaries means asking them what they earn. And that is about as socially acceptable as saying “What an ugly baby.”
你的同事们挣多少钱？在一些国家，比如挪威，你可以通过查看个人整体纳税和收入的公开记录而猜个八九不离十。但是在大多数地方，想弄清楚人们的工资意味着要询问他们挣多少钱。而问出这句话就像说出“这孩子真丑”一样，在社交上是不可接受的。
transparency n. 透明；清楚
【例】The reforms will ensure greater transparency and accountability.
改革将确保更大程度的透明度和问责性。
【拓展】transparent adj. 透明的；清楚的
【反义词】opaque adj. 模糊的；隐晦的
Norms of privacy and secrecy around income help explain why legislators who fret about unfair pay differentials increasingly require greater transparency.
围绕收入的隐私和保密社会规范有助于解释，为什么那些担心不公平薪酬差异的立法者越来越要求提高透明度。
norms n. 规范；行为标准
【例】Europe's varied cultural and social norms
欧洲各国不同的文化和社会规范
【拓展】the norm 常态；正常现象
【例】Delays are likely to be the norm for air travel in the next few weeks.
航班延误可能成为接下来几周乘飞机出行的常态。
【拓展】normal adj. 正常的
differential n. （数量）差别；差额
【例】There is a price differential between the two cars.
这两辆车的价格有差异。
【近义词】discrepancy n. 差异；出入；不一致
【例】the discrepancy between girls’ and boys’ performance in school
女生和男生在校表现的差异
Few jurisdictions are as radical as the Scandinavians, but more and more of them are mandating that firms disclose gender (and other) wage gaps, publish pay ranges on job adverts or refrain from asking about applicants’ prior earnings.
很少有司法管辖区像斯堪的纳维亚各国那样激进，但越来越多的国家要求公司披露性别（和其他方面的）工资差距、在招聘广告上公布薪资范围，或避免询问求职者以前的收入。
refrain from doing sth 克制某事；避免做某事
【例】He refrained from laughing in the class.
他在课堂上忍住笑。
【近义词】restrain yourself from doing sth 忍住不做某事
【例】He restrained himself from laughing.
他忍住不笑。
New transparency laws take effect in Illinois, Minnesota and Vermont this year; an EU directive is due to come into force in 2026. A recent review into the effects of all this sunlight reveals a mixed picture.
伊利诺伊州、明尼苏达州和佛蒙特州的透明度新法于今年生效，欧盟的一项指令也将于2026年生效。最近关于所有这些透明度政策的影响的一项审查表明，结果喜忧参半。
be due for/to do 预期某时间做某事
【例】The essay is due next Friday.
论文下周五要交。
The school is due to start in March.
学校3月份开学。
The movie is due for release next month.
电影下个月上映。
mixed adj. 混合的；有好有坏的
【例】I have mixed feelings about the job.
我对这份工作又喜欢又不喜欢。
mixed weather 有阴有晴
mixed reception 有好评有差评
Greater transparency about what people in similar jobs are earning has helped close pay gaps between men and women. This is not because lower-paid employees were given big pay bumps, however, but because average wages were suppressed.
对于从事类似工作的人的薪资透明度提高有助于缩小男女之间的薪酬差距。但这并不是因为低薪员工获得了大幅加薪，而是因为平均工资被压低。
suppress v. 抑制；压制
【例】The drug can suppress appetite.
这种药会抑制食欲。
【拓展】suppression n. 抑制
【辨析】repress v. 克制；压抑
【例】to repress his anger 忍住怒气
Transparency can also stoke motivation. A recent paper by Cédric Gutierrez of Bocconi University and his co-authors found that pay transparency among American academics increased the effort of those who were revealed to be overpaid. If you’re earning a lot more than others, you’d better prove your worth.
透明度也可以激发动力。博科尼大学的塞德里克·古铁雷斯及其合著者最近发表的一篇论文发现，美国学术界的薪酬透明度让那些被发现薪酬过高的人工作更加努力。如果你赚得比别人多很多，那么你最好能证明自己值这么多钱。
stoke v. 添燃料；刺激；促进
【例】to stoke the fire with coal 加煤炭让火更旺
to stoke the crisis 对危机推波助澜
to stoke up prices 推动物价上涨
【近义词】fuel v. 加燃料；促进
foster v. 培养；助长
【例】to foster trust 培养信任
to foster a spirit of cooperation 培养合作精神
to foster better relations 培养更友好的关系
As for wage disparities between bosses and those below them, you might imagine that gaps foster resentment. But they can also pique aspiration.
至于老板和下属之间的工资差距，你可能认为差距会滋生怨恨。但差距也能激发抱负。
stoke v. 添燃料；刺激；促进
【例】to stoke the fire with coal 加煤炭让火更旺
to stoke the crisis 对危机推波助澜
to stoke up prices 推动物价上涨
【近义词】fuel v. 加燃料；促进
foster v. 培养；助长
【例】to foster trust 培养信任
to foster a spirit of cooperation 培养合作精神
to foster better relations 培养更友好的关系
Other research by Ms Cullen and Mr Perez-Truglia suggests that employees not only consistently underestimate how much managers earn but also work harder when they find out the rewards that promotion can bring.
卡伦和佩雷斯-特鲁利亚的其他研究表明，员工不仅一直低估管理者的收入，而且当他们发现晋升可以带来多少回报时，他们会工作更加努力。
consistently adv. 一直；始终如一
【例】Her work has been of a consistently high standard.
她的工作一直是高水准的。
【拓展】consistent adj. 持续的；始终如一的
【例】a consistent growth in the economy 经济持续增长
Transparency makes it more important to get performance-based pay right. A recent paper by James Flynn of Miami University looked at what happened when the previously secret salaries of ice-hockey players in North America were published in the middle of the 1990 season.
透明度使得制定恰当的基于绩效的薪酬制度变得更加重要。迈阿密大学的詹姆斯·弗林最近发表的一篇论文研究了在1990年赛季期间，当北美冰球运动员之前保密的薪水被公布时发生了什么。
consistently adv. 一直；始终如一
【例】Her work has been of a consistently high standard.
她的工作一直是高水准的。
【拓展】consistent adj. 持续的；始终如一的
【例】a consistent growth in the economy 经济持续增长
Underpaid players shifted their efforts towards scoring goals and providing assists, which were more highly rewarded than defensive contributions, to the detriment of their teams’ performances as a whole.
薪酬较低的球员将努力转向了进球和提供助攻，这些比防守方面的贡献能得到更高的回报，而这种变化损害了球队的整体表现。
to the detriment of sth 不利于某事；对某事有害
【例】He was absorbed in his job to the detriment of his health.
他全身心地投入工作，结果损害了他的健康。
【反义词】to the benefit of sth 有利于某事
【例】It will be to your benefit to arrive early.
早到将会对你有利。
【拓展】detrimental adj. 有害的；不利的
课后练习
What are the social norms about income?
A. Income is considered a private and secret matter.
B. It's common to ask colleagues about their salaries.
C. People usually share their income information openly.
D. It is a social duty to pay income tax according to the law.What are the effects of the new transparency laws?
A. They have only positive effects on closing pay gaps.
B. They lead to big pay increases for lower-paid employees.
C. Gender pay gaps are narrowed with lower average wages.
D. No real progress is achieved due to improper implementation.According to the text, what may happen when employees find out managers' wages?
A. They demand an immediate pay rise.
B. They become resentful towards their managers.
C. They work harder to obtain the rewards of promotion.
D. They start to look for well-paid jobs in other companies.The example of the ice-hockey players shows that ____.
A. transparency leads to better performance of the team
B. it is important to incentivise players with pay properly
C. transparency makes underpaid players less productive
D. defensive contributions are more important than scoring goals
