The art of transparency

There is little that riles most of us more than being told that something isn’t what we thought it was or what it seems. A number of the low cost airlines seem to have made a real art out of this. The £9.99 return fare to Barcelona turns out to be £150 once you have added taxes, insurance and the cost of a seat on the plane and then god forbid if you want to take a bag with you or check in at a counter! No wonder most of us are left fuming by it all and would much rather the true cost was shown up front before we click through all the options.

This lack of transparency hit home to us recently when we were asked by a potential client for advice about a fee that they were being asked to pay by another recruitment company. Having agreed the original percentage placement fee and offered a candidate the role, the placement invoice arrived with a hefty addition to it as the recruitment company valued the candidates company car at £10,000 which was added to the invoice, boosting the fee handsomely thank you very much!

The fact of the matter is that this was in a tiny clause hidden away in the contract that the client had agreed to and signed. Equally, £10,000 is a disproportionate amount in relation to the actual car allowance and more importantly to the base salary. There are a number of other recruitment firms which add into the fees guaranteed bonuses, healthcare and pension contributions. Lovely adds on from their side of the table but clauses that are not going to win them many friends.

Our view is that our long term client relationship is paramount and as a consequence we only use base salaries and in many cases we work with clients on a fixed fee basis. No hidden extras, no subterfuge, clear open and transparent. Isn’t that the type of firm that you would rather work with?