Cost-of-living crisis | HR warned to expect surge of pay rise requests

With inflation rates at a 40-year high, household bills skyrocketing, and the threat of a recession looming, employers are being warned to prepare for an influx of requests for a pay raise from employees.

On average, wages increased by 4.7% over the last year which, on the surface, sounds like a good deal. But this has been outstripped by inflation, meaning that wages have actually fallen by 3%.

Jenny Marsden, Associate Director of BrightHR, said: “We are seeing increased unrest amongst workers, as evidenced by ongoing industrial action across many sectors calling for pay rises in line with inflation.

“It’s really important to bear in mind that everyone is feeling the pinch of the economic landscape right now, including businesses. However doing nothing is not an option. Employers must recognise that this is a real issue and put measures in place to support their employees.