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Candidates in the UK do not have to disclose salary information

Salary questions remain one of the most debated topics in job interviews. According to Acas (the UK’s Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), employers in the United Kingdom can ask candidates about their current salary or pay expectations, but applicants are under no obligation to share that information.

During recruitment, companies are banned from discriminating on the basis of protected characteristics such as age, disability, gender, pregnancy, race, religion or sexual orientation. Acas adviser Louise Rudd says that if salary information is to be discussed, it should be raised consistently with all candidates to ensure a fair process.

How could new EU rules affect pay negotiations?

The EU is preparing to roll out new rules across member states that will ban employers from asking candidates about their salary history. In contrast, plans from the UK Cabinet Office do not include such a ban and focus more on publishing salary information in job advertisements.

The Fawcett Society, which works on women’s and gender equality issues, argues that salary-history questions risk preserving historic pay gaps linked to gender, race and disability. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation also supports the call for recruiters to avoid such questions.

The debate also matters for how pay is set in the labour market. If a salary offer is shaped by a candidate’s previous earnings, bargaining power can matter more than skills and performance, keeping wage transparency and equal pay for equal work at the centre of the economic agenda.

What can candidates do in an interview?

Candidates can choose to disclose their current salary, but they are also free to refuse. Experts note that giving false information in an interview may appear to offer a short-term gain, but it can carry greater risks.

  • Instead of sharing current pay, state the expected salary range for the role
  • Research the market rate for the position and use it as a reference in the interview
  • Focus on experience, skills and the value you can bring, rather than salary history

Recruitment firms also stress that explaining pay expectations in line with market conditions can strengthen a candidate’s bargaining position. The focus should be on the candidate’s value added to the employer and the role’s market rate, rather than their previous salary.

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