The questions workers are afraid to ask

CanIhaveapayrise?Howabout a promotion? These are just some of the questions workers areafraidtoasktheiremployers.

Dealing with the boss can be nerve-wracking, so it’s hardly surprising that one in four (22.5 per cent) workers admit there are questions they’re afraid to ask, with this figure rising to almost a third (31.3 per cent) amongst millennials.

This is according to a study fromindependentjobboardCVLibrary.

The survey also found that despite being nervous in the first instance, half of workers (49.4percent)feellessawkward asking these questions once they’re comfortable with their boss. Workers also hate asking formoreflexibleworkinghours (32.7percent),timeoff(26.4per cent), and help with a task (27.6 per cent).

The top two questions employees are afraid to ask, however,concernapayrise(63.6per cent) and a job promotion (34.6 per cent).

“There’s a fine line between being too passive, and too aggressive when it comes to approaching your boss about pay rises or promotions,” says Lee Biggins, managing director of CV-Library.

“In an ideal workplace, an employer will create a culture where you feel comfortable enoughtoaskanything,buteven inthesecircumstances,matters ofmoneyorflexibleworkingcan feel awkward.

“If you feel you rightly deservewhateveritisyou’reasking for,thenyoushouldnotbeafraid to pose the question,” adds Lee.

“However, be sure to approach the subject carefully andprofessionally–demanding everything under the sun isn’t likely to be received well.”

Half of workers (49.4 per cent)don’tmindaskingdifficult questions once they feel more comfortablewiththeirboss,but howlongdoesthisusuallytake?

Foronethirdofworkers(30.3 per cent) this can take around a month,butfor23.4percent,this takes as little as a week.

Others said it takes them up to three months (22.6 per cent), a year (7.3 per cent), and some never feel comfortable with their boss (8.5 per cent).

Biggins concludes: “It’s worrying that nearly one in 10 never feel comfortable with their boss, especially if this stops them from asking important questions.

“While it may be nerve wracking, it’s vital you do what’s bestforyourcareer.Remember, bosses are human too.”