[TheSpiceIsLife]

A strong case against being open with the numbers is it that it could limit your ability to negotiate a higher rate with a potential new employer.

In the air force / navy / army etc there is only one employee to choose from so this never comes up.

[saiya-jin]

That's a weak case - friends/colleagues will most probably have 0 effect on negotiations on some new job. As written this hurts everybody except the employer, but if some folks across the pond are dumb enough to play this game, they deserve the effects