NOTIFICATION OF TRANSACTIONS OF DIRECTORS, PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITY OR CONNECTED PERSONS

Hays plc (the "Company")

In accordance with Disclosure and Transparency Rule 3.1.4R(1)(a),the Company hereby notifies you of the following changes in the interests of directors and persons discharging managerial responsibility ("PDMRs") in the Ordinary share capital of the Company.

* Denotes a director of the Company.

DEFERRED BONUS AWARDS

As required by the Remuneration Committee, the PDMRs listed in the table below have deferred 40% of their respective annual bonuses for the financial year ended 30 June 2012 into shares. On 7 September 2012, these PDMRs were granted a conditional right to receive shares at the end of a three-year restricted period ("Deferred Right"). The number of shares under each Deferred Right was calculated by reference to the price of 73.05 pence per share, being the closing middle market price on 6 September 2012. No matching award has been made in respect of these Awards.

DEFERRED NAME RIGHT Alistair Cox* 164,334 Paul Venables* 118,485 Tim Cook 50,097 Nick Cox 76,776 James Cullens 43,721 Sholto Douglas-Home 35,475 Nigel Heap 126,945 Steve Weston 53,448 Alison Yapp 40,502

As a result of the above transactions, the directors' interests in the Ordinary share capital of the Company (excluding share options and unvested incentive shares but including shares held beneficially under pre and post-tax deferred bonus arrangements) now stand as follows:

Alistair Cox: 2,472,801 shares Paul Venables: 1,625,446 shares

For further information in respect of this announcement, please contact

Neil Tsappis Deputy Company Secretary Hays plc +44 (0)20 7383 2266 7 September 2012