By Sarah-Jane Butler

One theme is dominating conversations in workplaces across the country: pay. Employees are feeling the relentless pressure of the increased cost of living, while many employers are quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) worrying about staying afloat.

It’s a difficult, emotionally charged landscape, and navigating conversations about pay rises has never been more delicate or more necessary.

Inflation might be easing on paper, but for most people it certainly doesn’t feel that way. Groceries, rent, childcare, energy costs — none of these have returned to anything resembling pre-crisis levels. Many employees feel they’ve been absorbing the shock for too long.

There’s a growing disconnect between what workers expect and what businesses can realistically afford, and that gap is opening tension in all sectors.

And yet, businesses are not exaggerating when they say they’re struggling too. Employers face their own rising costs at a time when margins are thin and demand is volatile.

A key point many employees overlook is that pay rises aren’t limited to the salary figure on their payslip. When wages go up, so do employer contributions.

Employer National Insurance Contributions increased in April, and the National Minimum Wage rise this year has created additional burdens, particularly for SMEs.

Even well-intentioned employers who value their people are honest about the challenges: the spirit may be willing, but the........

© LBC