Outrage was sparked recently when a popular coffee chain announced that it was changing its coffee subscription model, so beloved of office workers.
For a monthly fee of £30, subscribers could get up to five barista coffees a day, along with a 20 per cent discount on food. These halcyon days are ending, with the chain saying the system is to be scrapped from September.
The coffee chain is replacing its £30 subscription with a new service that costs £10 per month, and allows users to get half-price coffee up to five times a day. For many customers, news that the company’s filter coffee is going down to 99p, with a croissant dropping in price to £1.99, has come as small consolation.
UK workers are already paying higher prices than they were this time last year. Coffee is just one example, with a Project Café UK 2024 report finding that the average UK price of a 12oz latte has risen to £3.51, up 28p from last year.
According to the government, UK consumer prices have increased by 20.8 per cent over a three-year period between May 2021 and May 2024.
None of this is what cash-strapped workers want to hear. While wage growth is outstripping inflation by a small margin, many Brits still have higher mortgage or rent bills to pay, along with contending with pricier energy and petrol costs.
Project Café UK 2024 report found that the average UK price of a 12oz latte has risen to £3.51, up 28p from last year
Back to the office:
A recent survey from digital infrastructure specialists NCG found that 59 per cent of companies said employees would be expected to be present at the office more frequently than they have over the past year.
Hybrid work has emerged as the most popular option for Brits with 44 per cent doing so in 2023, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
But being in the office a few days a week can come at a cost, so what can UK employees do to boost their bank balances?
From bringing in your own lunch, switching to drip or filter coffees when you want a little treat or keeping pods or ground coffee in your desk drawer, the onus is often on the individual to find ways to pinch the pennies.
Millennials in particular will be well used to the hackneyed advice that they should simply give up flat whites and avocado toast in order to shore up their coffers.
However, the savings from these infrequent treats will only go so far, and as more and more workers return to the office, it’s worth considering asking your employer what it can do for you.
This can start with examining how you approach your pay and benefits at work. Here’s how to identify and then dispel the toxic behaviours you’re exhibiting at work, so that you can make more money.
Toxic trait: Never ask for a raise
Tiara Syndrome is a well-known phenomenon whereby people wait around to be praised and rewarded for their work, but what you really need to do at work is advocate for yourself.
That includes asking for more money. If your wage has stagnated over the past few years, then you should collect together evidence of how your contribution has increased, or the results you’ve driven.
Then, ask your boss for a meeting to discuss, explain the value you’re bringing, and let them know the new figure you have in mind.
If your wage has stagnated over the past few years, then you should collect together evidence of how your contribution has increased
Toxic trait: Not maximising company benefits
Benefits, schmenefits, right? Wrong: Benefits are part of your total compensation package and can often deliver lots of extra value. From offerings like fitness classes or paid subscriptions to mental health apps, get in touch with HR and find out what you’re entitled to.
Plus, lots of big companies have discount schemes for events and attractions––free cinema tickets? That sounds like a win.
Toxic trait: Always being up for a boozy night out
You know the feeling: it’s Thursday, your last day of the week in the office, so it can’t hurt to head out for one or two, surely? It’s team building, you tell yourself.
With the average price of a cocktail in London now around £13, those quick drinks can really add up. And if you head out for an after-work tipple every single week, you could be down hundreds of pounds a year – without really thinking about it.
With the average price of a cocktail in London now around £13, those quick drinks can really add up
Toxic trait: Online shopping when work is slow
A study has found that 69 per cent of employees do online shopping at work, and it’s so tempting too: surely a little look at your favourite fashion site couldn’t hurt?
It’s dangerous territory though. If you see something you want, and are worried it’ll sell out in your size, it’s too easy to buy it ‘just in case’.
But in addition to the strain this can put on your pocket, it turns out that 25 per cent of employers say they’ve fired someone for using company internet for non-work-related activity.
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