Laura Kuenssberg £200-£249k
and present the contributions you make. You can say, ‘I contributed to the company making X amount more this year, so I should be paid some of that.’ One of the most crucial things to find out is your market value. At the BBC, that’s been done for them. The list is a treasure trove for negotiations.”
Doody, author of Fearless Salary Negotiation: A Step-By-step Guide to Getting Paid What You’re Worth, says the BBC reminds him of the White House. The Obama administration was charged with swift improvement in 2014 when it was found male staffers earned 18 per cent more on average than female counterparts. (Trump’s gender pay gap stands at 37 per cent.)
At least 10 female BBC presenters are said to be considering legal action if the corporation does not close this gap. But in the case of co-workers of the same gender and with the same responsibilities but vastly different remunerations, Doody advises leaving your ego at the door.
“If you know the value of your job, like they do, look at the imbalance. Maybe the co-host has a better brand, or name recognition that makes them valuable or more experience. Whatever it is, you can go to the employer and say, ‘So, how do I get parity with that person? What do I have to do?’”
With salary talk still a taboo in most offices, it isn’t usual to know exactly what your colleagues are paid. To avoid asking, Doody has a trick. “I suggest they do it hypothetically. Discuss a potential new starter or a new role in the company that’s close to theirs, and ask them what they think that person should be paid. More often than not, people will say something just below what they get.”
For some BBC stars, it won’t just be knowledge of colleagues’ pay they’re wielding, but rival offers. Gary Lineker admitted on Twitter this week that he has turned down vast sums from commercial broadcasters, illustrated by the fact Ant and Dec’s £30million golden handshake deal with ITV is worth more than the entire 96-strong BBC list put together. So is it worth threatening to go to a competitor?
“It isn’t a good idea to mention offers in my opinion, no. Let’s say they match it, getting you a rise. After that, they know you’re listening to other offers, and how does that look? They also might just call you on it, and then you just have to walk.
“I prefer to keep threats out and focus on business value. It’s a great idea to say, ‘I know that if I went to Sky I would get three times the money here,’ for example, but that’s enough. Even if your company is on a tight budget like the BBC, you can work with them on a long-term plan.”
Elaborating on his own skills, Holmes, Lineker’s agent, said: “If you go on a negotiating course they will tell you there is no one way to do it. I will say it’s better to lay your marker down, and as high as possible.”
He has clearly never been on a negotiating course hosted by Doody: “I do not recommend you ever name the first number,” he says. “It may be different for talent agents, but how confident are you that your number is actually big? You might cost yourself money before you even start. Let them go first, then you can see how they’re going to play it. People do overestimate the damage that can be done by asking for a lot, so feel free to name a big counteroffer if you can back it up with your research, but you’re risking it all if you open with a figure.”
Counter to the perceived wisdom that women are bad at asking, Doody hasn’t noticed differences in the way the sexes negotiate. Confident, ambitious types are found in both genders, he says. “Some know how to articulate personal value, while some just get nervous about the whole thing. The pay gap is a machine, though, it’s a system that needs to be fixed.”
As individuals, he says, the key is to remember that negotiating yourself a better deal is not only sensible – but admirable. “Just know you can. If you go and try to have a conversation about gaining a pay increase and making the proper, solid case for yourself, it shows you’re thinking long-term and about both your personal growth as well as the company’s. Negotiation reflects well on you; try it.”