What now for Salary Transparency?

Open Letter to the Government

 

Viscount Younger of Leckie

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Lords)

 

Dear Lord Younger,

 

We have been watching closely the Government’s pay transparency scheme that was launched last year and are writing to ask you as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, when this pilot will finish and when the findings will be published?

 

We have been closely watching this pilot having recently launched the Salary Transparency Campaign on our recruitment platform, Liberty Hive.

 

The technology-led platform instantly connects talented media and marketing candidates, with forward thinking businesses for short-term, parental cover or permanent positions. With this platform we aim to disrupt the media industry by dialling up flexibility in the workplace.

 

We have recently launched the Inclusive Talent Community which aims to support our members as they make the transition to be salary transparent. Our data shows:

 

  • Candidates view salary transparency as the number one indicator of an employer’s long-term potential and 75% of candidates would be more likely to apply for a role that included a salary range.

 

  • 62% of candidates believe they should not be asked about their current or past salary in an interview and this figure increases to 73% amongst Asian workers and 75% for Black workers.

 

  • 57% of women and 54% of men felt less positive about a potential employer when they were asked the salary history question.

 

Liberty Hive is advocating for change on salary transparency in the UK and hope to open up debate with employers, candidates and Government. We urge your department to provide an update on the pay transparency scheme and release findings as soon as possible.

 

The UK economy potentially faces a recession this year and arguably the labour shortage is one of the most pressing problems employers are facing. We urge Government to embrace salary transparency which will undoubtedly help businesses weather the recession and recruit faster, tapping into freelancers and flexible workers who can help revive the labour market.

 

Our data shows response times for job roles with wages posted were almost 50% faster and received 67% more applications than those that did not.

 

Signed,

 

Laura Braithwaite and Kate Merritt

Co Founders, Liberty Hive