Why should job boards show the salary? Q&A with Mark Maddison of CharityComms

Why is salary info an essential part of any job ad?

At CharityComms, we believe salary transparency is a matter of fairness, equity, and trust. Salary transparency isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a crucial step toward inclusive and ethical recruitment that helps to promote equity and reduce pay gaps, particularly for women, people of colour, and individuals with disabilities.

Attracting a wider, more diverse pool of candidates is crucial for the charity sector to thrive.

"Salary transparency isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a crucial step toward inclusive and ethical recruitment"

It also saves time for both recruiters and candidates by setting clear expectations from the outset, builds trust in your organisation and demonstrates a commitment to sector best practices.

What trends are you noticing when it comes to salary transparency on job ads?

We’re seeing a steady shift towards greater transparency within the charity sector and although the pace of change varies, there’s growing pressure from candidates, funders, and peers, to be open about pay. Campaigns have helped drive this momentum, and data from our jobs board and others across the sector show that ads that show the salary outperform ads without this info.

How can job boards play a role in making salary transparency on job boards the norm?

Job boards play a significant role in setting standards and remain a key method for finding a new role – our 2024 salary and organisational culture survey report showed that 84% of comms and marketing professionals in the sector would use a sector-specific jobs board in their search.

At CharityComms we strongly encourage all employers to include salary information in their job listings, and support any of our members who are posting a role in learning more about the benefits of transparency and the expectations of today’s job seekers.

Aligning with campaigns such as We Show the Salary can also help job boards to promote sector-wide good practice, raise awareness and hold space for meaningful conversations, and help to create a new norm where pay transparency is expected and respected.

"92% of our salary and organisational culture survey report respondents told us that having the salary listed as ‘competitive’ or not listed at all in the job description for a role would discourage them from applying"

What do you say to employers who want to post an ad with your job board without including salary info?

We encourage them to think about the message it sends to potential applicants. Not including a salary can deter great candidates and harm perceptions of organisational values – plus many potential candidates now skip over ads that don't include pay details (92% of our salary and organisational culture survey report respondents told us that having the salary listed as ‘competitive’ or not listed at all in the job description for a role would discourage them from applying). We remind employers that salary transparency improves trust and inclusion and plays a crucial role in closing unjust pay gaps and promoting diversity.

Ultimately, we’re here to support employers in improving recruitment practices, and salary transparency is a key part of that journey.