Legal Question in Employment Law in California

Re: Salary Inquiry at the Workplace

California Labor Code section 232 says, in relevant part, "No employer may do any of the following:

(a) Require, as a condition of employment, that an employee refrain from disclosing the amount of his or her wages...

(c) Discharge, formally discipline, or otherwise discriminate against an employee who discloses the amount of his or her wages."

Re: Salary Inquiry at the Workplace

As a generally rule, employees in California are considered "at will" employees. This means that your employer can fire you can anytime for almost any reason unless the reason for termination express forbidden by law such as racial discrimination.

Some jobs might have specific protection like civil servants or people who are protective by a collective bargaining. However, there is no specific law that would protect you from termination for discussing staff salaries.