Actors & Writers Are Revealing Their Salaries Anonymously Via Google Docs Spreadsheet

Google Docs could be changing the world slowly but surely from underneath the surface. That might seem like a strange claim but it's happening.

'How can a simple document that is basically the same as a Word document that opens in your browser make any difference?' I hear you ask. Well, I'll tell you.

Google Docs can be shared anonymously online and many different people can add to them. This has meant that docs can be shared around offices and workplaces and filled in without fear of being found out by your boss.

There have been Google Docs bouncing around the film industry for a while now that outline the gender pay gap in Hollywood. Just two examples are the "TV Actors Salary" doc and the "TV Writers Salary" doc.

The spreadsheets ask for the person's ethnicity, gender, race as well as their experience.

These are real examples of how women and people of different backgrounds are discriminated against in the industry - cold hard evidence.

via GIPHY

There is also a "Shitty Media Men" doc that compiles a list of men and allegations against them.

Docs such as these show that a younger generation of workers is trying to use honesty to change the industry from the inside.

In the era of the #MeToo and Time's Up movements, this is very important.

Melissa Silverstein, who writes the Women and Hollywood blog, spoke to Variety about these Docs recently.

She said: "It's trying to take away the mystery of salaries and really empower people to understand how salary decisions get made.

"It's trying to help people know what to expect when they're making a deal.

"It's really powerful to share these things. For so long, silence has been encouraged. I think this is an example of people saying, 'We will be silent no more'. "

Outside of Hollywood, Google Docs are also being shared around workplaces as ways of employees talking about problems at work without fear of being caught out.

This can be anything from which manager is a bit too handsy to who they think is getting paid more than someone else.

However - it's worth remembering that it could be illegal to even look at documents like this - particularly the "Shitty Media Men" doc.

Media law professor Chip Stewart explained to Mashable: "Anyone on that list could sue for libel. And anyone contributing to the list would be a potential defendant.

"Labelling someone a rapist or sexual harasser is making a statement of fact. It's not enough to say, 'it's only a rumour I heard'.

'"You're going to be subject to lawsuits if you're the person who spreads the rumour, or the person who created the document in the first place, or if you republish it."

Featured Image Credit: PA / Giphy

Topics: Google, UK News, Entertainment, US News

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a freelance journalist and LADbible contributor. He graduated from University of London with a BA in Philosophy before studying for a Masters in Journalism at the University of Salford. He has previously written for the M.E.N Group as well as working for several top professional sports clubs. Contact him on [email protected]

@TPWagwim