10 nerve-racking questions your staff are afraid to ask

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First on this list of most-Googled questions by employees is "how to ask for a pay rise". 

With the cost of living going up all around the world, "how to ask for a pay rise" has emerged as the most-Googled or most-search-for questions by workers.

This is in a list of over 100 difficult conversations to have at work, created by analysing articles on the topic online, by Remote. Google Keyword Planner was then used to reveal the monthly search volumes across the world for each term.

Searches for "how to ask for a pay rise" have increased by 23% since last year.

In tandem, Remote’s additional survey of 2,327 employees and employers, found that just over a quarter (27.4%) of businesses have provided additional financial support to employees (e.g. bonus, travel paid for to work, etc.) due to the cost of living increases. Other methods of support include flexible work arrangements, as 21.1% of employers stated they have allowed their staff to work from home more frequently to reduce costs.

While this survey was conducted in the UK, HRO believes aspects of the findings are relevant for those managing Asia's workforce as well.

The following is the list of the 10 most difficult conversations to have at work per Google search data:

1. how to ask for a pay rise
2. how to tell your boss you’re sick
3. how to give negative feedback
4. what to say on your first day at work
5. how to report unfair treatment at work
6. what to say to someone leaving a job
7. how to report bullying at work
8. how to talk to your boss about burnout
9. what to say to an employee who is leaving
10. what to say when you’ve made a mistake at work

Nadia Vatalidis, VP of People at Remote shared their advice for managing tough conversations: "Difficult conversations at work are bound to come up from time to time, so it’s important for employers to create a work environment that encourages open communication and honesty so when they are needed, these types of conversations don’t feel so hard."

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