As the UK heads into the annual review season, over half (53%) of employers report a noticeable increase in wage costs over the past year.
According to findings from HR solutions provider SD Worx, 44 percent of employers see upward wage pressure as their biggest payroll concern, highlighting significant challenges across the UK workforce. These findings follow recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicating that total UK wage growth had slowed to 4.9 percent in the three months to August.
The study also suggests that employers are struggling with maintaining financial transparency and promoting financial wellbeing. Thirty-two percent of businesses find it difficult to support employee financial wellness, while 42 percent report challenges in managing pay transparency.
Shared Financial Pressures
The escalating wage pressure reflects a shared financial strain, with employers battling higher payroll costs to attract and retain talent, and employees facing mounting living expenses. Research from SD Worx, released in September, found that salary remains the primary factor driving employee dissatisfaction. Less than half (47 percent) of UK employees are satisfied with their pay, with only 49 percent feeling their salary is competitive and just 52 percent viewing their pay as fair relative to colleagues at a similar level.
This disconnect suggests that while employers are aware of financial pressures, the gap between employee needs and what organisations can afford remains wide. Employers are increasingly challenged to balance realistic compensation packages with the need to provide adequate support for their workforce’s cost-of-living demands.
Laura Miller, UK People Country Leader at SD Worx said, “The research highlights the very real impact that financial strain is having on businesses. However, the strain is shared by employees who too often feel poorly informed, ignored or just not in control of their own pay and benefits package.
“However, it’s a positive sign that employers have read these signals and are making active inroads to improving their communications about pay. This is vital to take a more transparent, empathetic approach that is able to reach across an entire company. It should be stressed that these efforts must be strategic, personalised to individuals as far as possible and above all else consistent.”
Communication Challenges
A growing communications gap around pay packages is contributing to employee dissatisfaction and disengagement. While some employers are attempting to bridge this gap through one-on-one conversations (32%) and internal communications (22%), these efforts appear to fall short, with many employees feeling uninformed. According to the SD Worx survey, only 50 percent of employees say they receive enough information about their pay, and just 25 percent report having the flexibility to tailor their rewards packages to fit personal needs.
However, there is a move among employers to address this gap. Nearly two-thirds (65.7%) of businesses are increasing their investment in rewards communications in the short term, with 38 percent of these making it a priority for long-term improvement.
“A good mix of financial and non-financial benefits really helps boost employee satisfaction and well-being. However, even the best perks mean nothing if employees feel in the dark about their value or feel that they’re not in tune with their interests or career goals,” Miller added. “That’s why employers must align benefits with what employees find important and give them a voice in the decision-making process. This ultimately builds trust, understanding and an appetite to stay with the company in the long-term.”
Alessandra Pacelli is a journalist and author contributing to HRreview, where she covers topics including labour market trends, employment costs, and workplace issues.
- Alessandra Pacelli
- Alessandra Pacelli
- Alessandra Pacelli
- Alessandra Pacelli
