The majority of charity workers would rather find a new job than ask their employers for a pay rise, new research has revealed.

A survey of 2,300 British professionals by CV-Library found over 50% of charity professionals say they ‘struggle to make ends meet’, yet nearly two thirds (65.5%) are still too scared to ask for a pay increase.

The survey revealed charity workers are less confident about asking for a pay rise than they were a year ago, when 35.3% said they’d be happy to request one.

Despite this, most workers in the sector are more likely to apply for a new role; 69% said they feel more confident about securing a higher paid role elsewhere.

The study further revealed that two thirds (62.1%) run out of money before they reach pay day.

“It's worrying to see that so many professionals in the industry are struggling to make ends meet across the UK,’ CV-Library CEO, Lee Biggins said.

“The cost of living is continuing to rise and when the economy is so uncertain, it’s clear that companies in the charity sector just can’t keep up in terms of pay. It’s unsustainable for staff to keep working at a financial deficit and it’s up to businesses do their best to offer employees reasonable salaries. If you don’t, you’ll run the risk of losing talented staff.”

Biggins added that it’s important for charities to conduct annual salary reviews for staff to retain talented workers.

“This doesn’t mean you have to offer more than you can afford; but you should look to reward good performance and increase wages in line with inflation,” he said.

“That said, there may still be times when this isn’t enough. If you do lose members of staff, it’s important to start looking for a replacement as soon as possible to ensure continuity. Be sure to draft your job advert carefully and consider offering a higher wage to any prospective candidates. This should attract top talent and set you apart from your competitors.”

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