What Staff Want And Can You Deliver?

What Staff Want And Can You Deliver?

Back in the nineties when I got my first job, it really did not matter what you got paid or what the hours were as long as the company was deemed “cool” to work for. 

In 2026 candidates do not have the luxury to choose a job based on the name, because a night out does not cost £20 anymore. In the good old days £20 got me entrance into a club, drinks all night, a snack on the way home plus my night bus fare from Piccadilly Circus back to Putney.

Totaljobs did a study that revealed that 84% of staff that are employed right now are open to new opportunities. Why, because the cost of living has increased, but salaries have not increased proportionally. 

There’s an abundance of candidates looking for employment and whilst they’ve become more discerning than ever, there are two main things staff want right now:

• Flexibility
• A decent basic salary

There is currently a big disconnect between what candidates want and what employers can offer, especially since the rise of employers National Insurance in April.  Staff value job security, so whilst job hopping is down from pre-Covid, the salary struggle is real and therefore “Open to Work” is a constant.

If you can’t afford a salary increase for your team, you need to consider offering other incentives to increase retention. 

1. Can you make the working hours more favourable to allow for school drop offs or pick-ups?  This way there is a saving on expenses. 
2. Can your team member work their 40 hours over a four-day week instead of five if that is their preference?

Balancing Affordability & Overheads

Not sure if your staff member can afford to stay with you?  It’s easy to check:

Take a salary calculator (or use their pay slip) and check their monthly salary after deductions. 

For reference the Office for National Statistics list the price for an average 1 bed in London as £1600 – £1900 a month. According to SpareRoom an average room rental with a shared bathroom cost £987 per month. Add utilities, travel and living expenses on top and see what is left at month end. This figure will give you a good indication of whether your staff member can afford to stay in their current role or whether they’re likely to be “open to work”.

As employers, it’s often difficult to find the balance between creating an environment where people want to work and thrive and still build a profitable business.  

Additional Employee Perks

Start by creating a list of perks that are already part of your employment package.  These perks should help your staff to feel appreciated and valued and should strengthen employee retention and improve client loyalty as a result. If you don’t have many additional perks, it’s worth considering how you could cost-effectively add additional benefits that your staff would appreciate.

Not sure where to start? 

Leverage Technology To Help Your Team Work Smarter

The average UK salary per year increased in 2024 from £37 430 to £39 039 in 2025 according to the Office for National Statistics.  The Aesthetic and Beauty industry is still lagging, but employers across the board are looking at ways an individual can bring in more money for the business. 

The smartest way to do this is to leverage technology. 

Not sure what tech your business needs?