Transparency Above All: Why Open Communication is the Future of Work

"Money is not something we talk about" – this phrase has shaped generations of employees and played right into employers' hands. But times are changing, and with them the expectations of modern corporate culture. At IDENTIC Projects, we have consciously chosen a different path: complete transparency in all areas of our collaboration.

The Old Game: Opacity as an Instrument of Power

For decades, the system worked according to a simple principle: those who have no information cannot make demands. Employers strategically exploited the secrecy surrounding salaries. The new colleague might earn 20% less than someone with comparable qualifications but ten years of company tenure – and nobody would ever find out.

This lack of transparency led to absurd situations: highly qualified employees who create the greatest added value sometimes received less salary than long-standing colleagues whose performance had long since stagnated. The taboo of "salary" prevented fair compensation and protected inefficient structures. Those who don't know what's possible can't demand what they deserve.

But here lies a dangerous illusion: if lack of transparency is the only reason your business model still works, you shouldn't hope it stays that way – you should fundamentally rethink your business. Structures that only survive in the dark have no future.

The World Has Changed

"Information is the new gold" – this phrase has been used almost inflationarily in recent years. But this doesn't only apply to company data or marketing analytics. It applies above all to the information that affects our working world.

Generation Z and subsequent generations are growing up in a world where information is available anytime, anywhere. Transparency is no longer a luxury, but a basic expectation. Whether product reviews, company information, or salary data on platforms like Glassdoor – the culture of silence is crumbling.

These young talents will no longer be satisfied with "we don't talk about such things." They expect the same openness from their employers that they know from the rest of their digital lives. Companies that cling to old power structures will lose out in the war for talent.

Our Path: Radical Transparency at IDENTIC Projects

At IDENTIC Projects, we have consciously chosen an uncompromising approach: all documents are internally accessible to everyone. Every team member can view the cash inflows and outflows of others. No hidden salary structures, no secret bonus payments, no information asymmetry.

This sounds radical to many – and it is. But it works. And not despite, but because of this openness.

Trust as Foundation

This kind of transparency only works with trust – and that's exactly where its strength lies. Trust is the foundation of all good collaboration. Those who work together should be able to rely on each other. Transparency doesn't just create this trust, it also requires it.

When everyone knows what others earn, honest conversations about value creation and compensation emerge. Suddenly, nobody has to guess or speculate anymore. The question "Am I fairly paid?" can be answered objectively.

The Positive Effects

What initially sounds like a risk turns out to be an enormous advantage in practice:

Justice becomes measurable: When all salaries are open, every compensation decision must be comprehensible. This forces fair structures.

Performance becomes visible: Those who perform more and take on more responsibility should also earn more. In a transparent system, this becomes visible and comprehensible to everyone.

Conflicts are avoided: Rumors and speculation about unfair treatment don't arise in the first place when all facts are on the table.

Motivation increases: Those who see that performance is fairly rewarded are more motivated to develop further and take on more responsibility.

Recruiting becomes honest: We can transparently show potential employees from the start how compensation works with us. This creates trust even before the first day of work.

The Challenges

Of course, this path is not without challenges. Transparency requires courage – from both sides. As an employer, you must be willing to justify decisions and subject yourself to constant scrutiny. As an employee, you must accept that your own compensation is also visible to everyone.

It requires a culture in which money can be openly discussed without envy or resentment arising. It requires clear criteria by which salaries are determined. And it requires the willingness of all parties to use this openness constructively.

Looking Ahead

Transparency is not a trend, but the logical consequence of a development that has long since begun. Companies that still rely on opacity today will have difficulties attracting and retaining talented employees tomorrow.

The next generations will not accept what their parents still tolerated. They rightfully demand what they deserve – and for that, they need information. Everyone should be able to demand what they deserve. And everyone should have the opportunity to verify whether that's the case.

At IDENTIC Projects, we have chosen this path because we are convinced that it is not only the fairer but also the more successful one. Transparency creates trust, trust creates cohesion, and cohesion creates success.

The future of work is transparent. And that's a good thing.