A client reached out recently – an employee came in with a pay rise request so detailed, it almost felt impossible to say no.

They’d laid out extra tasks, market data, and reasons that made sense on paper.

But from the business side, it was a massive leap, way beyond what was realistic.

The employer felt stuck. It started to feel personal, like they were being challenged.

They didn’t want to lose a valued team member,
but also believed the employee was already well paid. 

What made it harder? They hadn’t realised the employee had been feeling this way for a long time.

Because the request was so big, the employer asked us to step in and help them see the situation clearly.

We helped them check the facts, understand both perspectives, and prepare for a genuine, open conversation.

The goal wasn’t to say yes or no for them, it was to help them handle it honestly, without burning bridges or undervaluing the employee.

Sometimes, HR’s job is just to help people talk openly and keep those important relationships strong.