(Photo Courtesy of Marius Muresan via freeimages.com.)

Ever wonder what your co-workers take home every payday?

Though many workplaces forbid talking about that, new research suggests being open about pay actually makes people work harder.

It may sound crazy. But workplace consultant Brandon Smith said people respond to greater transparency at work.

“People eventually get clear on what’s expected of them. They know how people get rewarded,” said Smith, our regular commentator on work and career issues.

Smith has more on how salary transparency improves the workplace, including its impact on the gender wage gap, on this week’s Working on GPB Radio.