I recently gave my notice as a Brand Manager at an FMCG company, and things took a surprising turn. After sharing my new job details with my colleagues, our department director confronted me, accusing me of intentionally disclosing my salary and causing turmoil within the team. To provide some context, there are five of us Brand Managers who started around the same time, and we’ve built a close friendship. A month ago, during a casual outing, one of our former coworkers mentioned her new job offer, including her salary. Coincidentally, I had also applied for a similar position at the same company and used her salary as a benchmark for my negotiations. When I informed my current team about my departure, I mentioned that my new salary was similar to what she had shared. However, it seems my friend inadvertently disclosed my salary during a conversation with our manager, which led to the director's outburst. She called me out of the blue, expressing her frustration and implying that I was trying to sabotage the team. I felt completely blindsided, especially since I never intended to create any issues. I tried to explain that I hadn’t disclosed my salary intentionally and that the conversation stemmed from my friend's mistake. It’s disheartening because I know my coworkers have been grappling with salary discussions for years, and I only learned about my own underpayment through these conversations. While I understand the sensitivity around salary discussions, I didn’t expect such a severe reaction from the director, especially since discussing salaries is actually protected by law in my country. I’m left feeling upset and frustrated, questioning whether I did anything wrong. It feels like the management is more concerned about maintaining the status quo than addressing fair compensation. I’m seeking some outside perspective on this situation. Did I really do something wrong, or is the director’s reaction completely unwarranted?