{"id":30414,"date":"2026-06-23T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=30414"},"modified":"2026-06-19T09:33:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T08:33:12","slug":"sme-workforce-pulse-how-to-plan-pay-rises-you-can-keep-giving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sme-workforce-pulse-how-to-plan-pay-rises-you-can-keep-giving\/","title":{"rendered":"SME Workforce Pulse &amp; how to plan pay rises you can keep giving"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/free-guides-templates\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Free guides &amp; templates<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSME Workforce Pulse &amp; how to plan pay rises you can keep giving\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSage&#8217;s research reveals businesses are proving remarkably resilient, and many want to reward their teams for it. Here\u2019s how to use the insights to plan pay rises that feel generous now\u2014and stay affordable for years.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-23T09:00:00+01:00\">23 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"SME Workforce Pulse &amp; how to plan pay rises you can keep giving\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sme-workforce-pulse-how-to-plan-pay-rises-you-can-keep-giving\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/keirthomasbryant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair.jpg 760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Keir Thomas-Bryant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In partnership with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/u42094680.ct.sendgrid.net\/ls\/click?upn=u001.N-2FlvnHzxAKevxi36kkRN6w4hcH42hdBAqZJnKGlyrfWXq34K6DRQKE7IsBlVyAqCE97r_jOFWpjKATmQTbR31WvvW-2BDCMIOiCnt1lgY-2Fm21-2BPqRtrxKxOfuppY8t3rqLfryx-2FPPzbfzdun5-2Bnohxy2-2BaNy-2FntXy50HCV5qgj3ykxeUbZLB3P7PJ8TZt7kylhRA5fvRn-2FHehIICb57qDngwe-2FAJKGT3O9HRdHd96XCYRCbNsGwPwrLPqwwa91hYpAgnMhSvIPFjFvQRQQOOVz6g4agwzsCynOhWEArxYM5GUs5gL8QMPvugDKf8Ni2E-2BHVKQrT76tIUsaxmpSaWJJy0-2FAIfA-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Smart Data Foundry<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cebr.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Centre for Economics and Business Research<\/a>, Sage has published its latest SME Monthly Workforce Pulse research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is drawn from anonymised payroll data from approximately 200,000 small businesses and provides unheralded insight into pay across the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The data is part of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/company\/sustainability-and-society\/tech\/data-for-good\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Data for Good<\/a>, Sage&#8217;s commitment to help Small and Medium Businesses thrive using anonymised insights from our data and enabling better decision making by stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As such, smart managers and leaders can use SME Monthly Workforce Pulse to plan their next moves\u2014such as competitive pay offerings that help retain staff. That&#8217;s what we cover in this article, as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-smes-are-showing-resilience\" data-level=\"2\">SMEs are showing resilience<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-hiring-continues-to-ease\" data-level=\"2\">Hiring continues to ease<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-do-you-plan-pay-rises-you-can-keep-giving\" data-level=\"2\">How do you plan pay rises you can keep giving?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Start-with-the-full-picture\" data-level=\"3\">1. Start with the full picture, not just the salary<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-2-check-it-against-your-cash-flow-before-you-commit\" data-level=\"3\">2. Check it against your cash flow before you commit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#There%E2%80%99s-more-than-one-way\" data-level=\"3\">3. There&rsquo;s more than one way to say thank you<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Talk-to-your-team-like\" data-level=\"3\">4. Talk to your team like, well, your team<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-5-deciding-on-the-rise-itself-and-giving-it-well\" data-level=\"3\">5. Deciding on the rise itself&mdash;and giving it well<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-smes-are-showing-resilience\">SMEs are showing resilience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The data shows median gross pay rose 4.1% year-on-year to \u00a32,203, with take-home pay up 3.3% to \u00a31,804. Pay growth is easing amid increased slack in the UK labour market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Headcount among micro businesses grew +0.4%, outpacing small and medium firms at +0.2% each. The \u00a310,500 Employment Allowance may be shielding the smallest employers from the full impact of the NICs rise, but this protection falls away as firms scale up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a sectoral basis, Finance and Insurance was the strongest sector for headcount growth at +1.5%, while Wholesale and Retail Trade led on earnings growth at +4.5%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-hiring-continues-to-ease\">Hiring continues to ease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Data also shows that real-terms pay growth is being squeezed, falling to 1.0% this month, as nominal wages cool and progress on reducing inflation is stalled by the conflict in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On regional granularity, Wales recorded the greatest headcount decline at -0.4% despite leading the UK on pay growth at 5.8%. Its heavy reliance on manufacturing and construction leaves it particularly exposed to energy price volatility from the ongoing Iran-Strait of Hormuz disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accommodation and Food shed the most staff of any sector at -1.4%. As one of the largest employers of young people, the sector&#8217;s continued job losses have wider implications for youth employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1029\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/median-earnings-1029x810.png\" alt=\"Median monthly earnings\" class=\"wp-image-30416\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/median-earnings-1029x810.png 1029w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/median-earnings-768x605.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/median-earnings.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1029px) 100vw, 1029px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-you-plan-pay-rises-you-can-keep-giving\">How do you plan pay rises you can keep giving?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With hiring steadier than it\u2019s been, a lot of business owners are turning their attention to the team they\u2019ve already got\u2014and pay is a big part of looking after them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The encouraging news in this month\u2019s data is that wages are still rising. The clever bit is making sure the rises you give are ones you can keep giving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some suggestions for how to plan them with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Start-with-the-full-picture\">1. Start with the full picture, not just the salary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easy to think of a pay rise as simply the new figure shown on an employee\u2019s payslip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In practice, every pound you add brings a little extra with it\u2014more employer National Insurance, higher pension contributions, and sometimes knock-on costs tied to salary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>None of that is a reason to hold back. It just means the smartest first move is to work out what a rise really costs before you promise it, so the figure in your head matches the one that leaves your business\u2019s account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Payroll software can calculate these costs quickly, helping you plan with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-check-it-against-your-cash-flow-before-you-commit\">2. Check it against your cash flow before you commit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A pay rise isn\u2019t a one-off, of course. It\u2019s a commitment you make every month from here on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, it pays to see how it sits next to everything else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pull up your cash flow forecast and map the new wage bill across the year ahead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are there quieter months when it\u2019ll feel a bit tighter? Busier spells that give you some breathing room? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seeing the whole year in one view means you can be generous on purpose, rather than hopeful in the moment and nervous later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And when the numbers say you can comfortably do it\u2014wonderful. Now you know for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"There\u2019s-more-than-one-way\">3. There\u2019s more than one way to say thank you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If an across-the-board percentage feels like a stretch this year, you have options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, these alternatives can provide greater value to employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might weight rises towards the roles that are hardest to replace, phase an increase across the year, or link a bump to a milestone everyone can get behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A one-off bonus, an extra day of annual leave, or a bit more flexibility can all say \u201cwe appreciate you\u201d without locking in a permanent rise to the wage bill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The real skill is matching the reward to what your people genuinely value\u2014which, more often than not, isn\u2019t only about the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Talk-to-your-team-like\">4. Talk to your team like, well, your team<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>People are far more understanding than we sometimes expect\u2014especially when they\u2019re kept in the loop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being open about how you set pay, what\u2019s gone well this year, and what you\u2019re planning builds a kind of trust that a surprise figure on a payslip never can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also the perfect moment to help people see the full value of what they receive: the salary, yes, but also the pension, the benefits, and the flexibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A rise always feels bigger when someone can see everything that sits around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-deciding-on-the-rise-itself-and-giving-it-well\"><strong>5. Deciding on the rise itself\u2014and giving it well<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At some point the planning has to turn into a decision, and this is the part that&#8217;s easiest to keep putting off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Try not to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you know what you can afford, settle on a figure you can stand behind\u2014one that reflects the employee\u2019s contribution, aligns with market rates for similar roles, and takes into account the cost of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don&#8217;t need a complicated formula. You need a number you&#8217;d feel comfortable explaining out loud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you give it, be specific: tell them the new salary, when it takes effect, and\u2014the bit that really lands and provides lasting value for you as employer\u2014exactly why they&#8217;ve earned it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then make sure it actually happens: update their contract, log the effective date, and check it&#8217;s reflected on the very next payslip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nothing undoes a generous moment faster than a rise that doesn&#8217;t show up on time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final thoughts: Plan ahead, and you can keep saying yes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the honest secret to rewarding your team well: it\u2019s less about any single decision and more about planning far enough ahead that good decisions stay possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you know your true costs, you\u2019ve mapped them against your cash flow, and you\u2019ve got a few ways to show appreciation up your sleeve, pay becomes something you can feel genuinely good about rather than something you worry about each spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Resilient businesses aren\u2019t the ones that never hit a tight month. They\u2019re the ones that saw it coming and planned around it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do that, while keeping an eye on data such as that from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/company\/sustainability-and-society\/tech\/data-for-good\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sage&#8217;s SME Monthly Workforce Pulse<\/a>, and you\u2019ll be ready to keep saying yes for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1781705761117\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How much does it cost in total when giving an employee a pay rise?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A pay rise costs more than the figure on the payslip. On top of the extra salary, you\u2019ll usually pay more employer National Insurance and higher pension contributions, and any salary-linked benefits or holiday pay can creep up too. A good rule of thumb is to budget for the headline increase plus these on-costs\u2014and check the precise figure in your payroll software before you commit, since it works it out in moments.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1781705802682\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How often should a small business give pay rises?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">There\u2019s no legal requirement to give a pay rise, although employers must ensure pay complies with National Minimum Wage regulations set by GOV.UK. Most smaller businesses review pay once a year, often at the start of the financial year or on each person\u2019s work anniversary, which keeps things predictable for everyone. Consistency tends to matter more than frequency: a dependable annual review earns more trust than the occasional surprise.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1781705825617\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What\u2019s a reasonable pay rise to give in 2026?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">There\u2019s no single right number. A reasonable rise is one that\u2019s fair to your team and affordable for your business. It helps to weigh up three things: inflation, so the rise holds its value in real terms; what similar roles pay in your sector and region; and your own cash flow. For context, median pay across UK small businesses rose by around 4% over the past year, according to Sage&#8217;s Monthly Workforce Pulse for May 2026, but the best figure for you is the one your numbers can comfortably support.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1781705873456\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What can I offer my team instead of a pay rise?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Plenty, and some of it lands better than cash. A one-off bonus rewards a strong year without raising your permanent wage bill (although bonuses can affect employee tax liabilities, for example, if they move into a higher tax bracket). Extra annual leave, flexible or compressed hours and remote-working options are highly valued and often cost very little. Investing in training, clearer progression or better everyday perks also shows you\u2019re invested in someone. The key is asking what your people actually want, rather than guessing.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1781705965685\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do I have a good conversation about pay with my team?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Honesty and a little context go a long way. Explain how you set pay, what\u2019s shaped this year\u2019s decision and what people can expect next. The reasoning matters as much as the number. It\u2019s also a great chance to show the full value someone receives: salary, pension, benefits, and flexibility together. People respond well when they feel informed and trusted, rather than simply handed a figure.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Better outcomes with Data for Good<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Sage is committed to unlocking the power of anonymised data to drive insight that supports better decisions. In partnership with Smart Data Foundry and CEBR, we translate anonymised data into independent evidence\u2011based insight that supports better decision\u2011making.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/company\/sustainability-and-society\/tech\/data-for-good\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tid=\"cta-id-30420\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-button-location=\"cta_box\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>View our latest reports<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/03\/Sage_BrandShootNC_Feb2024_Accountants_0233-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Female accountant working with a client\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/03\/Sage_BrandShootNC_Feb2024_Accountants_0233-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/accountant-payroll\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccountant payroll\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/hr-processes-medium-businesses\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHR processes for medium businesses\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/hr-process\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHR processes for small businesses\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/hr-payroll-benefits\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHR, payroll and benefits\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/payroll\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPayroll\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-30434 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-people-leadership category-trends-insights tag-ai tag-recruit tag-hr-processes-medium-businesses tag-hr-process tag-hr-payroll-benefits tag-looking-after-your-employees business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/Ai-in-HR-infographic-image-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"A woman poses in front of the Sage glow line and a black background.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/Ai-in-HR-infographic-image-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/Ai-in-HR-infographic-image-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/06\/Ai-in-HR-infographic-image-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-23T09:02:11+01:00\">23 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">10 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-ai-in-hr\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWhat is AI in HR and how can you use it responsibly?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tAI is quickly becoming part of everyday HR work. But while many HR leaders see its potential, just as many are concerned about how to use it responsibly.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-30011 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-hr-payroll-benefits tag-looking-after-your-employees tag-payroll business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/how-many-work-hours-in-a-year\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-608166817-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Women in a shop environment working on Black Friday promotions\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-608166817-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-608166817-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-608166817-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-08T16:53:28+01:00\">8 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">12 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow many working hours in a year UK 2026\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-18238 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-growth-customers tag-accountant-accounting tag-accountant-automation tag-accountant-payroll tag-accountant-tax tag-accountants-online-hub-gb tag-bookkeeping tag-grow-accounting-practice business_type-accountants\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/new-tax-year-accountants-bookkeepers\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0417-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Working with clients on new plans\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0417-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0417-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0417-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-03-18T17:01:32+00:00\">18 March, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow accountants and bookkeepers can embrace the new tax year with confidence\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-4062 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters category-strategy-legal-operations tag-hr-process tag-need-to-know tag-payroll tag-tax tag-vat business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business business_type-accountants\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/new-tax-year\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1478421401-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Working on business priorities\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1478421401-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1478421401-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1478421401.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-03-18T16:02:02+00:00\">18 March, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">11 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tNew tax year: Key changes and initiatives for 2026\/27\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-28704 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-people-leadership category-trends-insights tag-career-development tag-data-analytics tag-employee-engagement tag-finance tag-recruit tag-looking-after-your-employees tag-need-to-know tag-payroll business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business business_type-accountants\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/average-salary-uk\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1146164056-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Woman applying for business credit line\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1146164056-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1146164056-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1146164056-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-03-12T10:35:53+00:00\">12 March, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">23 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tAverage salary in the UK: by region &amp; age 2026\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sage&#8217;s research reveals businesses are proving remarkably resilient, and many want to reward their teams for it. Here\u2019s how to use the insights to plan pay rises that feel generous now\u2014and stay affordable for years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":280,"featured_media":11726,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[139],"tags":[225,240,41,234,37],"business_type":[4,3,115],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[669,63],"persona":[67,69,71,73,74],"imagine_tag":[214,289,92,217,200,103],"coauthors":[369],"class_list":["post-30414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-free-guides-templates","tag-accountant-payroll","tag-hr-processes-medium-businesses","tag-hr-process","tag-hr-payroll-benefits","tag-payroll","business_type-small-business","business_type-medium-sized-business","business_type-accountants","industry-hr-and-people-management","industry-professional-services"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Keir Thomas-Bryant","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-143917299.jpg","imagine_tags":{"214":"Accountant payroll","289":"Accounting and Payroll","92":"HR and Payroll","217":"HR processes","200":"Payroll","103":"Payroll software"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice UK","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/280"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30414"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30414\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30478,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30414\/revisions\/30478"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/11726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30414"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=30414"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=30414"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=30414"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=30414"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=30414"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=30414"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=30414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}