The Unfair Practice for Asking Salary in India
The Unfair Practice for Asking Salary in India
When you apply for a job in India, one of the most common and frustrating questions you face is, “What was your previous salary?” Honestly, it’s like being judged for your cooking skills based on the size of your kitchen. Why should someone’s talent, experience, or potential be tied to what they earned before? It’s not just unfair; it’s downright outdated.
Salary History: A Barrier to Fair Opportunity
This obsession with past salaries is a uniquely stubborn problem. Employers seem fixated on boxing candidates into neat financial brackets, handing out small, safe raises based on outdated pay checks. It’s like giving a race car only a bicycle track to run on—completely missing its potential.
Imagine someone who took a lower-paying job due to personal reasons. Does that mean they’re any less capable of doing amazing work? Of course not. But in India, your pay check history often seals your fate, leaving talented individuals stuck in a rut with little hope of hitting the reset button.
Is Success Really About Money?
The real tragedy is how success is often measured. In this system, it’s all about money, money, money. But true success isn’t just a bigger pay check. It’s about following your passion, growing through challenges, and becoming the best version of yourself. Yet, many employees here are deprived of that chance because companies value cost-cutting over nurturing talent.
Take a failed businessperson, for example. Their venture might have collapsed for reasons beyond their control, but they’ve gained something invaluable: experience. These folks can see risks and opportunities with the kind of critical radar you’d pay consultants a fortune for. Yet, instead of recognizing their insights, organizations dismiss them because they’re too busy asking, “What’s your last salary?”
The Replaceable Employee Mindset
Here’s the problem: companies treat employees as replaceable cogs in a giant machine. With India’s massive population, there’s always someone willing to take the job for less. But this short-term thinking costs organizations dearly. They lose out on dedicated professionals who could bring long-term value—all because they won’t pay what these individuals truly deserve.
And let’s talk about age. Cross a certain number on your birthday cake, and suddenly opportunities dry up. Despite years of expertise, you’re seen as “too old” for growth or better roles. Companies want your work, but they’re not interested in your happiness. It’s like squeezing juice out of an orange and tossing the peel—short-sighted and wasteful.
Why Employees Jump Ship
It’s no surprise that employees in India often jump from one job to another. If companies won’t recognize their worth, they’re forced to move on for better pay or a bigger title. Instead of building loyalty, organizations are busy counting paise, not realizing they’re losing rupees.
A Wake-Up Call for Organizations
Isn’t it time for a change? What if companies started treating employees as investments rather than expenses? What if they valued experience, potential, and passion over arbitrary numbers on a payslip? Imagine the innovation, growth, and loyalty that could follow.
Let’s stop tying people’s futures to their past salaries. Dreamers and doers deserve a chance to thrive, and organizations that embrace this mindset will ultimately benefit the most. It’s time to see employees for what they are: not just workers, but individuals brimming with potential—if only someone would give them the space to shine.