Radio pay rates: The next chapter

Earlier this year, a Radio Today article questioning whether Australian radio employees are being paid enough attracted a huge response.

In an open letter to the industry, an anonymous radio employee hit a raw nerve:

“Your producers, announcers, sales reps, engineers, the promo team, all of us, we are the people who drive your revenue and ratings targets and help contribute to that sizeable bonus you love talking about at staff drinks.”

“My peers and I all talk, and the common theme is – ‘you don’t need a pay rise, think about all the perks and experiences you’ll gain from this opportunity.'”

“With total respect, we see through the bullshit and it’s time to start paying up.”

At that time, then-CEO of Commercial Radio Australia Joan Warner noted that “CRA doesn’t have visibility on pay rates and can’t comment on individual cases.”

Fast-forward eight months, and – as interest rates and the cost of living continue to rise – employees are hoping a bill going before Federal Parliament today could expand the discussion and provide some further insight and clarity.

The Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill would ban pay secrecy clauses so that companies cannot prohibit staff from talking about their pay if they want to.

A key objective of the legislation is to help close the gender pay gap.

The Albanese government says “These clauses have long been used to conceal gender pay discrepancies. Banning them will improve transparency, reduce the risk of gender pay discrimination and empower women to ask their employers for pay rises.”

The goal is to bring current laws up to date with the needs of the modern workplace, and further assist those struggling to make ends meet.