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Raising pay OK if it gets workers in the office, execs say

Raising pay OK if it gets workers in the office, execs say

SIA Editorial Staff
| October 7, 2024

Main article

A majority of managers are willing to increase starting salaries in order to get new hires into the office, according to research by staffing firm Robert Half (NYSE: RHI). It found that 66% of managers are OK with raising starting pay to get applicants on site for jobs that could otherwise be done remotely.

More than half of those raising salaries, 59%, said they would increase pay by up to 20% to have workers come in four to five days per week.

“There’s less churn in today’s market, which means employers are increasingly focused on strategies to keep their best employees and attract new candidates to address skills gaps,” Dawn Fay, operational president at Robert Half, said in a press release.

The research was included in Robert Half’s annual salary guide.

Other findings include:

  • Advancements in AI are reshaping needed skill sets, according to 54% of hiring managers. In addition, 37% are bringing in contract talent to support AI-related projects.
  • Salary expectations are a concern, with 48% of managers saying that meeting job seekers’ pay expectations are among their greatest hiring challenges. It noted benefits that support employee wellbeing, work-life balance and career advancement can make an offer more attractive.
  • Retirements are a top concern for managers, and 45% are investing in training and upskilling of their current workforce as a result. In addition, 41% of hiring managers are rehiring retirees as part-time consultants.

Robert Half’s research is based on a survey of more than 2,500 managers with hiring responsibilities in finance/accounting; technology; marketing and creative; legal; administrative and customer support; and human resources at companies with 20 or more employees in the US.