Almost 50% of employers commonly offer promotions without pay hike: survey

Almost 50 per cent of Canadian employers commonly give promotions without an increase in salary, according to a survey by OfficeTeam.

The survey, which polled 300 human resources managers and more than 1,000 Canadian office workers older than 18, found that the number of employers offering promotions without salary hikes rose to 47 per cent this year from 25 per cent in 2011.

Read: Employers urged to look beyond pay raises in retaining top talent

Among employee respondents, the survey found men were more willing (59 per cent) to receive a promotion without higher pay compared to 51 per cent of women. Also, workers between the ages of 18 and 34 were the most likely to take a new job title without a raise, with 62 per cent stating they would do so.

“While providing advancement opportunities can be a valuable way for companies to motivate employees and reward success, many professionals expect a promotion to come with a raise,” said Koula Vasilopoulos, a district director with OfficeTeam, in a news release.

“If limited resources make that difficult, employers should be prepared to deliver alternate perks like more vacation time or enhanced benefits to keep staff satisfied. A new title may look good on paper, but before accepting an offer, employees need to schedule time with their manager to discuss whether the role fits their long-term career goals and the total compensation structure for the position.”

Read: Companies emphasizing variable pay as salaries projected to rise by 2.8% in 2018: survey