Salary

The Mail was typically angry last month. They reported that the average FTSE 100 boss makes 145 times their employees’ average salary. For once, they have a point: this kind of pay gap is outrageous.

However, many charities have even higher ratios. One employee of the British Heart Foundation makes over £190,000, while some work for free. Cancer Research UK uses volunteers, while employing 26 people on six-figure salaries, including one on £220,000.

I’m one of the 20,000 people who work, unpaid, in Oxfam shops, while the charity pays 32 staff at least £60,000; five of them make £100,000. In 2000, Oxfam complained of “the ever more obscene income gap separating rich and poor countries – and in growing income inequalities within countries”, though Oxfam itself has an infinite income gap. Even if they only paid their boss £1, it would still be infinite; the point is, a six figure salary is a lot for the head of an anti-poverty charity.

Apparently “Oxfam’s purpose is to overcome poverty and inequality all over the world including in the UK”, but not within their own organisation, of course. Someone from Oxfam explains why that’s fair here. If you’re convinced, check here for jobs at Oxfam, or here for other well-paid charity roles.