paymurmur
/ˈpeɪˌmɜːmə/nounVerified NewThe hushed, oblique manner in which compensation is discussed among colleagues who have worked together for years.
Numbers become ranges, ranges become "roughly what you'd expect", and the direct question stays unsaid at every level of seniority. The murmur is maintained by both sides — employers discourage, but colleagues also guard, because revealing your own feels like losing.
Etym. — pay + murmur: pay talk conducted at the volume of a rumour.
Rel. — bonusrune
Novelty check: NEW · checked 2026-11-08
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