Your company just had layoffs. Can you still ask for a raise?

"In today's job market, many employees are feeling the pressure. Layoffs continue to make headlines, hiring pipelines have slowed, budgets have tightened, and job seekers are facing fierce competition. For those already employed, this environment raises a tricky question: What's reasonable to ask for at work right now-and what isn't? There's always the standard wish list: promotions, raises, more flexibility, and better benefits. But in a strained economy, some of these asks may be harder to land-and for many employees, even harder to ask for."

"Zety, a career platform designed to make job searching easier with expert-backed tools and advice, found in its latest Pay on Pause Report three in five workers are willing to forgo or accept smaller raises this year due to fears of layoffs and job instability, and 66% avoided asking for a raise altogether, citing economic pressures and uncertainty."

"According to career expert Jasmine Escalera, many employees are hesitant to ask for anything right now. The thought process is: "I should just be grateful to have a job," or, "I don't want to ask for more and rock the boat, especially if AI is coming in," she explains. Maybe even, "I don't want to disrupt what I already have, because I don't want to then be out in that job market and not even know when's the next time I'm potentially going to get a position," Escalera says."

Layoffs, slowed hiring, tightened budgets, and fierce competition are increasing pressure on employees and prompting many to hold back on workplace requests. Standard asks include promotions, raises, flexibility, and better benefits, but economic strain is making these asks harder to secure. Three in five workers are willing to accept smaller raises because of fears about layoffs and job instability, and 66% avoided asking for a raise due to economic uncertainty. Many employees fear that requesting more could jeopardize their positions, citing worries about rocking the boat, AI-driven disruption, and facing a difficult job market if displaced.

Read at Fast Company