News comment: 47 per cent of HR professionals claiming they are dealing with more employee relation issues now than they were prior to the pandemic

It's time to face the harsh truth that employee loyalty is dead. In today's job market, employees are more fickle than ever, constantly on the hunt for the next best thing. For an HR professional, it's becoming increasingly harder to keep them from jumping ship.
But is it really possible to improve employee retention? The recent Wade Macdonald report found that 73% of employees are willing to leave their current job for a better opportunity.
So, how can businesses keep their employees from walking out the door?
It's time to get creative. From flexible working to personalised additional benefits, HR professionals need to think outside the box to keep employees engaged and committed. The old ways of employee retention simply won't cut it anymore. It's time to adapt this new ever changing market or business owners ultimately face the risk of losing top talent.

We have seen an increase in pay grievances over the past 12 months driven by the cost of living. Where once employees would have voted with their feet if unhappy with pay, there is a move to raising a collective voice amongst staff to pressure employers into driving larger pay increases than ever before to narrow the gap between earnings and inflation. Employees see nurses, Doctors and train drivers striking, and feel similarly aggrieved that their pay is no longer enabling them to make ends meet.

Traditionally we may have dealt with the odd equal pay claim, but in 2023, we're seeing pay increases being challenged, grievances being raised and collective responses outlining frustrations from aggrieved employees. The pressure on employers to improve pay increases and provide assistance with cost of living struggles is mounting.