Whenever inflation bites, the minimum wage goes up or there is any other minor employment apocalypse, the first things to be cut back are pay rises and bonuses for hard working staff.
However, beware of automatically choosing this path, as it might be more expensive than you think.
A former security guard in Fuerstenfeldbruck, Germany, thought he had been passed over for a wage increase one too many times and decided to rectify the situation. Unfortunately for his employers, the man – known only as Ingo S – decided £5m would just about cover it.
He was caught dragging bags of cash out of his car, and was subsequently hauled up in front of a judge. He said he felt mistreated by the company.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
“I successfully built up that branch and instead of being given a pay rise, all I got was a pat on the back,” Ingo raged.
Looking on the bright side, at least Ingo wasn’t employed in the agricultural sector. When you’re tending a field of cows, a pat on the back for your hard work really is the limit.