The subject of wages is rising in companies. Already because the period of wage negotiations opens, but also because with the soaring prices of electricity, gas, fuel, the French are looking for how to make ends meet. Finally, because on several occasions, the government has encouraged employers to be more generous and to increase wages. In fact, nearly one in two HRDs plans to change their remuneration policy in the coming months, it was barely a large third in January.
But not all companies will be able to increase wages because some do not come out of the crisis with cash flow in very good shape. Employers will therefore rather favor individual salary increases linked to the performance of each employee, rather than collective and grouped increases. They fear that this issue of remuneration will disrupt the social climate in companies, which is rather good, according to 71% of HRDs questioned.
Purchasing power, but also teleworking animate exchanges in companies. Almost 4,000 agreements have been signed but despite these agreements, in 15% of cases, the implementation of teleworking poses a problem. The disputes relate to eligible positions or not, or to the number of days of remote work. After months of confinement, the employees do not all want to return to the sites: there are refusals.
HRDs also fear that 100% teleworking will cut jobs. This risk exists, not immediately but in a few months. Since some positions do not require a physical presence in the company, they can be relocated to countries where the cost of labor is lower in Asia, in Eastern Europe, in particular.
The positions concerned are support functions, accountants, engineers, data managers, etc. After having been rather privileged during confinement, thanks to teleworking, white-collar workers could well experience a backlash and be the big losers in this crisis. The National Association of HRDs calls for vigilance, thousands of jobs could disappear in France.