Salary envy is coming to the NHS. As the recession decimates jobs, pension pots and pay rises in the private sector, newspapers are turning their cynical fire on the pay and perks of public sector managers.
Egged on by the people's chancellor, Vince Cable, whose endless media coverage represents one of the few growth areas left in the economy, the media is exposing ever more horror stories of senior public sector greed.
The ludicrous yardstick of choice is the "prime minister's salary", as if that comes close to representing his full remuneration. And few managers enjoy the prospect of a seven-figure advance on their memoirs.
Not for nothing is envy a cardinal sin; it is one of the most dispiriting of human emotions. But as hardship bites and steep tax rises loom on the economic horizon, the relatively cushioned public sector world must expect closer scrutiny.
Scotland's information commissioner, Kevin Dunion, has now called for senior staff to reveal all their reward, including salary, pensions, expenses and hospitality.
Trusts should heed his advice and publish. It is a simple matter of public accountability. If taxpayers foot the bill, they should know how much the senior team is costing.
If your local paper has not filed a Freedom of Information request for your top team’s salary details, it is slow off the mark. Rather than face the humiliation of having the figures dragged out of you, it is far better to get it out in your own way, in your own time.
The complexity and pressure of an NHS management post dwarfs that of most comparable jobs. Unless one of your executives has been gorging, boozing and flying their way through large swathes of public cash, you have nothing to hide.
As hardship bites and steep tax rises loom on the horizon, the relatively cushioned public sector must expect closer scrutiny.
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