Is it the wrong time to ask for a raise?

Asking for a pay rise during a corporate shake-up requires confidence and good timing (Photo: iStock)

To ask or not to ask? Asking for a pay rise can feel risky, especially when companies are restructuring and cutting jobs.

But with the rising cost of living and heavier workloads after redundancies, staying silent may also come at a cost. The key is shifting the conversation from what you need to what value you bring.

Read the corporate atmosphere

Before asking for a pay rise, understand why layoffs are happening. Restructuring can mean a company is struggling to survive or is strategically shifting focus.