To: Pat McFadden MP, Secretary of State for Work & Pensions
Stop hiding salaries: Make showing pay in job ads compulsory
Make it a legal requirement for all job advertisements to clearly display the actual salary or salary range.
Why is this important?
Thousands of jobseekers are wasting huge amounts of time, energy, and emotional investment applying for jobs, only to find out at the interview stage that the salary does not meet their needs. Phrases like "Competitive Salary" are misleading and hide the true seniority of a role.
Transparency stops the unfair practice of low-balling candidates based on their "salary expectations" rather than the value of the job. It saves time for both the recruiter and the applicant.
In 2024, I was made redundant after working for a large financial institution for 25 years in mid-senior roles. So far I have been unsuccessful at finding a new job, despite my experience and qualifications.
For most applications, I am asked about my salary history or expectations. Even when I explicitly state I am happy to accept significantly less, sometimes £20-25k less I can tell employers are afraid I will 'walk' as soon as a better offer comes along.
In several cases, I wouldn't have applied for a role at all had I known the pay wouldn't meet my financial needs. Listing the salary upfront would have saved everyone's time
For example, one role required three days in the office. Because I have mobility issues and don't drive, the commute would have cost me £260 a month in taxis, but the employer was unwilling to negotiate on this. It was heartbreaking to receive a rejection email after investing so much time preparing, researching, and tailoring my CV for a job that was financially unviable from the start.
Transparency stops the unfair practice of low-balling candidates based on their "salary expectations" rather than the value of the job. It saves time for both the recruiter and the applicant.
In 2024, I was made redundant after working for a large financial institution for 25 years in mid-senior roles. So far I have been unsuccessful at finding a new job, despite my experience and qualifications.
For most applications, I am asked about my salary history or expectations. Even when I explicitly state I am happy to accept significantly less, sometimes £20-25k less I can tell employers are afraid I will 'walk' as soon as a better offer comes along.
In several cases, I wouldn't have applied for a role at all had I known the pay wouldn't meet my financial needs. Listing the salary upfront would have saved everyone's time
For example, one role required three days in the office. Because I have mobility issues and don't drive, the commute would have cost me £260 a month in taxis, but the employer was unwilling to negotiate on this. It was heartbreaking to receive a rejection email after investing so much time preparing, researching, and tailoring my CV for a job that was financially unviable from the start.
