Earlier this year, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN), in conjunction with other key nonprofit job board providers and allies (Pollen Midwest and Springboard for the Arts), launched a new initiative on our highly trafficked job board requiring employers to provide a numeric salary figure or range in their postings. This was part of a concerted effort to help lead Minnesota’s nonprofit sector into a more transparent, trust-based, and equitable employment environment in 2020 and beyond.
It is our steadfast belief that providing clear and accurate salary information is beneficial for both employers and jobseekers, and here are just a few reasons why:
- Supports Equitable Hiring Practices: If the nonprofit sector truly seeks to nurture an inclusive and equitable employment environment, being transparent about salary ranges is one of the best places to start. Whether conscious or unconscious, bias can impact how some employers choose to compensate new hires. By setting and communicating clear salary ranges up front, nonprofits remove an unnecessary barrier to attracting the best candidates, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, or ability.
- Saves Time: Far too often, employers spend countless hours reviewing resumes, scheduling and conducting interviews, only to find out that their salary range does not match the needs and expectations of the candidate. By posting salary ranges, employers save their hiring teams and jobseekers time by attracting only the candidates that feel the position fits their compensation requirements.
- Increases Applicants: Some studies have indicated an increase of 20-30 percent more applicants for job postings with salary ranges included, compared to those without. In a competitive hiring environment, nonprofits should take advantage of every tool available to attract a robust pool of talent to their organization?
Where We Sit Today
As we’ve navigated the first months of this change, we have been pleased to see that the percentage of job postings now listing accurate salary or wage information has increased to just over 86 percent, up from 55 percent just prior to the switch. For those employers providing this important information with your job opportunities — whether a historical practice or a new, potentially uncomfortable one — we thank you!
Lessons We’re Learning
While this positive momentum is wonderful to see, we’ve also been made aware of a small segment of employers taking advantage of a unique platform loophole to avoid entering an actual salary/wage, thus subverting the spirit and goal of this important transition. We understand this change is not easy or natural for every nonprofit employer, and it is incumbent on each of us to advocate for the positive impact the practice of providing clear salary/wage information can have on our sector and communities moving forward.
For MCN, this process is one of learning, and occasionally stumbling, and we will continue to explore solutions with our technology partners that make workarounds a thing of the past. We greatly appreciate your feedback, patience, and support as we attempt to move closer to a employment resource that more effectively fosters trust, clarity, and success for both jobseekers and nonprofit employers.