'Challenging times' | Money worries forcing many staff to work through illness

New research highlights the significant impact of the cost of living crisis on people’s home and work life – driving them to change jobs, take on more hours, and even attend work when they should be off sick.

Nearly one in three (31%) of the 1,006 UK-based workers polled by HR software provider CIPHR in May report working more hours or extra shifts because of rising living costs over the last few months, and one in eight (12%) have taken on an additional job.

One in four (26%) men and one in five (18%) women say they’ve requested a pay rise to help offset record inflation. A further 12% (16% of men and 10% of women) have asked their employer to expand their employee benefits package, by, for example, adding a health cashback plan or an employee discounts scheme.

Many, however, are looking elsewhere to boost their earnings. One in eight (12%) people claim to have already found alternative employment with higher wages. Over double that number (27%) are considering doing the same – finding a job with better pay – because of cost of living increases.