Competitive salaries for your political staff — lessons from ID

Competitive salaries for your political staff — lessons from ID

Most people seek a career in a political party not for compensation but for the cause. Some join to fulfil their political ambitions but do not rely on high salaries to be motivated when they start their political journey. We can all agree that compared to a corporate career, our political jobs often require 60 or 70 working hours per week, including weekends. Going the ‘extra mile’ is usually expected because there is always a fire to put off or a statement to make to avoid losing political relevance. However, it is a certainty that the staff’s willingness to contribute 150% to the cause is only fleetingly fueled. With time, professional staff requires competitive salaries that keep them motivated, considering the circumstances of their political career.

Right-leaning parties frequently recognise the value of motivating employees with competitive compensation. Compared to socialist or green parties, groups like Rassemblement National in France or the Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond (EKRE) in Estonia offer more competitive salaries to their staff. This is because staff working for more nationalistic-focused parties might risk their career opportunities once they leave their home party. Yet, this is the reality for many working in political parties. There is always a risk that a partisan paragraph on the CV of someone who worked as staff might not be welcomed for new professional ventures after political failure. If this is a reality, we can learn from the right about the importance of offering competitive salaries.