Pay rises are on the cards for some Australians but not for all

NOT all Australian workers planning to ask for a pay rise during this performance review season will get lucky. We reveal who is in with a chance.

WORKERS planning to ask for a pay rise this performance review season have about a 50-50 chance at success.

In the past 12 months, the Hays Salary report reveals 17 per cent of workers asked for a pay rise and were rewarded while 15 per cent asked and were declined.

This year, 45 per cent of workers say they intend to ask for higher salaries and 89 per cent of employers intend to offer them – but rises will likely be minimal for most.

While two in three employers plan to offer less than a 3 per cent rise, just one in 20 plan to increase by more than 6 per cent.

Hays managing director Nick Deligiannis explains why businesses are being cautious.

Hays Australia and New Zealand managing director Nick Deligiannis says a cautious approach is prevailing despite rising headcounts, business activity and sentiment.

But workers in some industries have better outlooks than others.

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Those in IT and telecommunications – with 20 per cent of employers planning at least 6 per cent rises – lead the pack and advertising and media (16 per cent) and construction, property and engineering (9 per cent) are among the lucky industries.

IT and telecommunications workers have the best chance at a decent pay rise this year. Picture: iStock

The public sector (1 per cent), financial services (3 per cent) and resources and mining (3 per cent) are at the other end of the spectrum.

Performance review season isn’t just about salary, though.

New research by Survey Sampling International on behalf of SEEK reveals 48 per cent of Australian workers who have performance reviews say they help inform future goals and objectives and 60 per cent use them to highlight areas that need focused development.

People leadership expert Karen Gately says reviews should move from being yearly to quarterly.

“It should be a more regular conversation,” she says.

“We live in a far more dynamic world so may need to be shifting our goals throughout the year.

“In having a quality conversation it needs to be authentic, open and honest and build trust and respect mutually.”

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