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Original poster

Job adverts without salary details

176 replies

stillnotworkingout · 23/05/2023 18:34

I'm finding these infuriating and it's putting me off even applying for jobs that otherwise look a good fit for me.

It makes me feel that if the company can't be transparent about salary, what kind of organisation are they otherwise?

I don't want to apply for numerous jobs only to find out it would never be financially viable for me to take up an offer.

Is there ever a benefit to potential employees of this type of advert?

Am I missing something and being unreasonable to not even apply?

OP posts:
Catchasingmewithspiders · 23/05/2023 21:38

Sorry you can't pay your mortgage this month Sue, you do work extremely hard but we have to afford the gym membership you don't have the energy to use somehow, here have an apple. 🙄

Jeevesnotwooster · 23/05/2023 21:38

@LaurieFairyCake totally agree!

@GoldenRetriever4 literally none of those would make a difference to me. And if you want to attract superstars why don't you just put those huge salaries on your adverts. Just looking at this thread there are plenty of people who are not going to look at you without it

Taperjeanwoman · 23/05/2023 21:39

😂 My mum was laughing about this pre covid - she said they had free tea and coffee in the 70s. It wasn't a workplace benefit then and it isn't now. She worked in a department store with a canteen with discount hot food.

The year is 2023. Companies need to do better than this. Aim higher.

Lcb123 · 23/05/2023 21:41

YANBU, I hate that. All it does is perpetuate pay disparities in the organisation as they don’t want others in similar roles to know what salary is being advertised. I’m pleased to work at a university where salary scales are public! You could email to ask about the salary.

UnaLaguna · 23/05/2023 21:43

I've worked as a contractor for a company that prides itself on being an equal opportunity employer, always pushing initiatives to attract women in a very male dominated industry. They were trying to get me to apply for a permanent position and I repeatedly told them I don't apply for roles that don't advertise a salary as I believe it disadvantages women and maintains the gender pay gap. They still wouldn't disclose a salary for a role they wanted me to apply for!

Goballistic · 23/05/2023 21:44

I have applied for and been offered such a job. The original salary they had in mind would have stopped me applying.

When they invited me for an interview I politely said I didn't want to waste anyone time but I was looking for x amount. They said that's fine it matches my cv and to come chat with them. I turned the job down but it wasn't salary related. If you like the sound of it apply there's no harm having a conversation

Original poster
stillnotworkingout · 23/05/2023 21:46

We provide a fantastic range of benefits, including subsidised gym membership, on site restaurant, 4pm finish on Fridays and complimentary tea, coffee and fruit.

If someone is paying me peanuts, I'll be damned if I'm going to spend those peanuts in their restaurant and be thankful for it.

OP posts:
OnlyFannys · 23/05/2023 21:51

GoldenRetriever4 · 23/05/2023 21:31

We provide a fantastic range of benefits, including subsidised gym membership, on site restaurant, 4pm finish on Fridays and complimentary tea, coffee and fruit.

We find that many of our ‘workhorse’ staff like receptionists, admin staff etc really value these along with our friendly culture over an extra few quid down the road.

However, we do need to be able to pay above market rates to attract people into ‘superstar’ roles that make a big difference to the company.

This is honestly the shittest range of benefits I've ever heard 😂 I suspect you discourage WFH as well (and if you dont those "benefits" are completely useless to people not in the office)

Phineyj · 23/05/2023 21:51

I always reckon if the salary was that good, they'd tell you! Not telling you, tells you something.

Allblackeverythingalways · 23/05/2023 21:51

GoldenRetriever4 · 23/05/2023 21:31

We provide a fantastic range of benefits, including subsidised gym membership, on site restaurant, 4pm finish on Fridays and complimentary tea, coffee and fruit.

We find that many of our ‘workhorse’ staff like receptionists, admin staff etc really value these along with our friendly culture over an extra few quid down the road.

However, we do need to be able to pay above market rates to attract people into ‘superstar’ roles that make a big difference to the company.

That's a list of cheap crap no-one wants.
Gym membership? Chain gyms are about £20 a month. Free tea and coffee? Gosh, where do I apply? I bet its instant coffee too. 🤢
Pay people properly ffs.

Taperjeanwoman · 23/05/2023 21:53

I doubt @GoldenRetriever4 will come back. Off to lick their wounds and take part in some company-wide brown nosing 😁

GoldenRetriever4 · 23/05/2023 21:54

@OnlyFannys

We expect our staff to be in the office on a full time basis as this is a big part of the friendly and supportive culture we have.

Exasperatednow · 23/05/2023 21:55

I think its one of the mechanisms that reinforces the gender pay gap. Women tend to ask for less money.
I dislike it immensely.

Allblackeverythingalways · 23/05/2023 21:55

GoldenRetriever4 · 23/05/2023 21:54

@OnlyFannys

We expect our staff to be in the office on a full time basis as this is a big part of the friendly and supportive culture we have.

You've got to be on the wind up 🤣
I bet you're just one big family too

Taperjeanwoman · 23/05/2023 21:55

Oh @GoldenRetriever4 returned! Did you come bearing gifts of tea, coffee and fruit for us all? 😂

L1ttledrummergirl · 23/05/2023 21:56

Gym membership- either you're sporty and already have one, or you're not so you'll never use it.

I want to work for money. I'm a receptionist, do you want me to know the telephone directory inside out to transfer calls quickly, or do you want me to faff around, manually looking for the number each time? Do you want me to ask all relevant information from the person at my desk to direct them to the best person, or do you want me to send them to the person they've asked for even though they may not be the best person?

Do you want me to use my full skill set, or not? That's what you are paying for.

Biscuitmonster2318 · 23/05/2023 21:56

Maybe I’m naive as I always assumed jobs advertised with out salary details were because they were expected to be negotiated.

Taperjeanwoman · 23/05/2023 21:57

Biscuitmonster2318 · 23/05/2023 21:56

Maybe I’m naive as I always assumed jobs advertised with out salary details were because they were expected to be negotiated.

Yeah you're 100% naive. It's okay - we've all been there...

ThreeRingCircus · 23/05/2023 21:59

Starseeking · 23/05/2023 19:41

It's annoying OP, I agree. In my experience it's more common to see salary details on adverts in the public sector, than the private sector.

The "no salary on vacancies" position hugely disadvantages both women and those from minority groups, who statistically earn less (hence gender and ethnically pay gaps).

When a salary is stated on a role, it helps to level the playing field for all, by setting a range for the position, rather than basing it solely on the individual who is most proactive about negotiating (white men are, broadly speaking, experts at this).

I've just moved jobs, and may not have accepted the recruiters approach, had the advert not stated at the outset the salary range. If I'd have just seen the responsibilities, I'd have thought it wouldn't pay as much as I was looking for. If they'd have known my previous salary, they likely would have offered less. As it happened, I secured a 20% increase on my last salary on moving, so all good.

I disclose the salary on all the roles I'm recruiting for, which current staff dislike (as they feel it exposes them), and prospective staff react positively to. On balance, I think it's good practice.

I was coming here to say exactly this. I work in HR and it's commonly known that not disclosing a salary range on a job advert actively disadvantages women and minority ethnic groups. If a company doesn't know that, that's concerning and if they know it and still don't put salary ranges in adverts, then that's even more concerning.

OnlyFannys · 23/05/2023 22:00

Allblackeverythingalways · 23/05/2023 21:55

You've got to be on the wind up 🤣
I bet you're just one big family too

Show quote history

Yeah they had me going for a while but it has to be a joke 😂

fetchacloth · 23/05/2023 22:02

I agree OP unpublished salary range puts me off applying for the job too.
Previous experience of this has meant that, even with good negotiating skills, you'll be unlikely to be earning much more than you are now.
It seems to be a method of recruitment on the cheap.
As others have said, it is best to look on Glassdoor for guidance on salary range.

Catchasingmewithspiders · 23/05/2023 22:04

GoldenRetriever4 · 23/05/2023 21:54

@OnlyFannys

We expect our staff to be in the office on a full time basis as this is a big part of the friendly and supportive culture we have.

We manage a supportive and friendly culture with the following:

Fair pay that's at least at market rate and the bench marking is done by an external company to ensure the figures aren't underestimated.

Annual pay rises that are also done in conjunction with the third party to ensure exisiting employees salaries dont fall below market value

Flexible working. We don't have to wait until Friday for a 4pm finish, some people finish at 4 every day, some at 6 if they want to start late

Fully wfh, hybrid or fully in the office whatever suits people best with a range of vritual or in person events across the year

On on site gym and canteen

Free tea and coffee (like this is standard everywhere!) they would probably even give us fruit if anyone asked for it

A top down culture of diversity and inclusion. An office only workplace to encourage culture actively discourages many disabled people.

What we don't do is pretend that free fruit and leaving an hour early one day a week compensates for paying our lower paid staff below market rates because we dont value their impact to the business. I bet their job always needs cover if they are ill though unlike some other jobs.

Starseeking · 23/05/2023 22:07

GoldenRetriever4 · 23/05/2023 21:54

@OnlyFannys

We expect our staff to be in the office on a full time basis as this is a big part of the friendly and supportive culture we have.

Now you're just trolling 🤣🤣🤣

Original poster
stillnotworkingout · 23/05/2023 22:17

GoldenRetriever4 · 23/05/2023 21:54

@OnlyFannys

We expect our staff to be in the office on a full time basis as this is a big part of the friendly and supportive culture we have.

I don't mean to add to the pile on, and I actually attend the office most days by choice, but some of my most supportive colleagues and those I have the best working (and personal) relationships with, are the ones I sometimes go months without seeing.

Good relationships can absolutely be maintained via hybrid working, so this just sounds like management cop-out.

OP posts:
GoodChat · 23/05/2023 22:23

GoldenRetriever4 · 23/05/2023 21:54

@OnlyFannys

We expect our staff to be in the office on a full time basis as this is a big part of the friendly and supportive culture we have.

Sounds really supportive to make your employees lives difficult