Pay reviews are the most common cause of conflict between employees and their bosses, according to a new survey from Robert Half International.

It found that globally 32% of workers believe pay reviews are the major cause of workplace conflict, followed by performance reviews (19%) and not being considered for promotion (19%).

Ian Graves, managing director continental Europe, says: “Managers need to take a consultative approach and communicate openly with employees about performance and expectations. Employers should aim to work with their staff to set clear goals and objectives and avoid dispute at review time.”

The survey, which also looks at average working hours, shows that 57% of accounting and finance professionals work between 36 and 45 hours per week.