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

Keywords

• salary details
• promotion
• leadership
• performance improvement
• employment rights
• pay transparency

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

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