Are PRs underpaid?

The issue of PRs being underpaid has reared its head again. According to a new PR Week survey 49 per cent of respondents said that they felt short-changed by their employer. But what are the reasons behind this?

Known for its decadence and red-carpet lifestyle PR professionals are now painting a very different picture of what life is really like in their sector. Challenging old stereotypes PRs are speaking out, claiming that underpayment is endemic in PR. According to PRs the issue stems from a lack of paid overtime and the gender pay gap that was highlighted last year in a survey by PRCA. Despite most public relations agencies being dominated by women, research shows that most of CEOs are men. Although PR is an industry that is inclusive of women, there is still an imbalance of gender at the very top of the ladder which shows up in how its workers are paid.

But not all PR professionals share the same views, some stated that they felt overpaid in relation to workers in the public sector like the NHS.

In spite of the issues highlighted in this recent survey a sense of optimism prevails with more than two-thirds of PRs saying that they would still recommend the job to a friend and remaining positive about their employer’s approach to flexible working, career progression and workplace diversity. But what about you? Do you feel any more positive about the issue of pay being adequately addressed in the PR industry, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

But what about you? Do you feel any more positive about the issue of pay being adequately addressed in the PR industry, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.