There has been much talk through the media about a cost of living crisis. I am a HR manger and have been approached by a number of employees in relation to this issue. They have spotted that a number of companies have provided one-off payments in response to increasing living costs. How do I handle it?

This ties in with the issue of pay rises which can be a very contentious issue when it comes to dealing with employees. Some employees may find the issue quite sensitive and will be reluctant to raise it with their employer. For others however, this can lead to deputes or result in valued employees leaving the organisation.

As a starting point, the employee’s contract