In a nation where 71% of job adverts now include salary details, only 16% of Brits are willing to discuss their earnings with colleagues. Despite the UK leading Europe in salary transparency, new research from Indeed reveals that the British preference for politeness and discretion prevails when it comes to personal pay conversations.
The great British pay paradox
The survey of 7,000 European workers exposes a clear cultural divide: while 81% of employees and job seekers believe salary ranges should be disclosed in job ads, nearly half (49%) find discussing personal pay uncomfortable. Older workers usually hesitate to discuss salaries—36% of over-55s avoid the topic, while younger generations are much more open, with only 7% of under-25s feeling uncomfortable.
Regional salary secrets
Where you live in the UK also plays a role in salary openness. Belfast tops the list of the most reserved cities, with 37% of residents unwilling to ask about others’ salaries. Bristol, Norwich, Glasgow, and Liverpool also rank high in discretion. Meanwhile, workers in Leeds and Sheffield appear to have no such reservations, leading the charge for pay transparency.
Even in personal relationships, Brits maintain a level of salary secrecy. Only 58% of people feel comfortable discussing their partner’s earnings, reflecting a deep-rooted cultural reluctance to talk about money—even with those closest to them.
Danny Stacy, head of Talent Intelligence at Indeed, warns that this reluctance has real-world consequences. “Avoiding salary discussions makes it harder for individuals to benchmark their earnings, negotiate fair pay, and understand their worth in the job market,” he explains.
While the UK has made strides in salary transparency at the hiring stage, social norms hinder workplace pay equity. Until conversations about earnings become more normalised, progress toward fairer wages may be slower than many hope.