HR People Pod – Ep 45: The problem with pay secrecy | Pressure-proof managers | Are PIPs broken?
About this episode
The episode discusses the issues surrounding pay secrecy, the pressures on managers, and the effectiveness of performance improvement plans.
Why are so many employers still hiding salary details when candidates increasingly expect pay transparency? While technical capability might win a promotion, are organisations doing enough to prepare managers for the pressure that comes with leadership? And when performance improvement plans (PIPs) are so often seen as a step towards the exit, can they still be a credible tool for improvement? CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza, is joined by Sally Hopper, Director of People at London Fire Brigade, and David Blackburn, Managing Director of David R. Blackburn Consulting. Recorded: 20 March 2026 --- Explore more from this episode: CIPD – Tracking law changes: Employment Rights Act 2025 Your next listen: HR People Pod – Ep37: Leading under pressure – with Professor Kevin Fong CIPD Podcast – Episode 194: Is pay transparency good for business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: David D’Souza
Guests: Sally Hopper, David Blackburn
Topics covered
- pay secrecy
- pay transparency
- managerial pressure
- leadership preparation
- performance improvement plans
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: CIPD, London Fire Brigade, David R. Blackburn Consulting
Books & works: Employment Rights Act 2025, HR People Pod – Ep37: Leading under pressure – with Professor Kevin Fong, CIPD Podcast – Episode 194: Is pay transparency good for business
More episodes of CIPD
- HR People Pod – Ep 47: Disability disclosure | CEO avatars | Engagement | Productivity myths
- HR People Pod – Ep 46: Measuring culture, driving performance – with Hani Nabeel
- Podcast 228: The missing first rung: Are we sleepwalking into a talent crisis?
- HR People Pod – Ep 44: Crisis leadership | Impact of employee benefits | Friction-maxxing at work
- HR People Pod – Ep 43: Inside Davos – AI, work and the future of identity - with Allyn Bailey
- Podcast 227: How to make learning stick and drive performance
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