HR expert with five rules to negotiate a higher wage says 'always ask'

If you have to work harder and harder to make ends meet, but only find yourself left with less and less money at the end of each month, you might be in need of a pay rise. Asking to be paid more can sometimes be an awkward conversation to have with your boss, but as an employment expert explains - if you don't ask, you don't get.

In recent years, some workers have managed to gain large pay rises through industrial action and negotiation, but this is not the case for the majority of Brits whose wages are set by their employers. Those workers rely on their bosses to raise their pay to reflect the higher cost of living, but many are finding it harder to make ends meet

When prices spiked following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many businesses raised their prices to reflect their higher costs, but when prices on supermarket shelves rose, workers could not do the same. You might not be able to guarantee that they will increase your pay, but taking steps to present yourself properly, and the case for why you deserve to be paid more, can make all the difference in getting paid what you deserve.

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Molly Dyer, Director of People and Culture at Balance, has to deal with pay negotiations all the time, and has five tips to make sure that you have the best chances possible to get that all essential pay rise.

With many of us now working from home, it might seem easier to arrange this meeting online, or via email. But this could hinder, rather than help you.

Molly said: “Always ask your manager, or HR manager, whoever is best suited at your business, for a face-to-face meeting.

"Emails could potentially catch them off-guard, or at a bad time for them. By