Marvin OnumonuMillions of Brits are losing out on higher pay by using common workplace phrases, new research from Tide found.
Phrases like ‘no worries if not’ and ‘just checking’ are linked to missed pay rises and late payments.
The results showed that 62% of workers, or 25.8 million people, softened requests at work, with more than half apologising even when not at fault.
Employees who softened their requests or apologised unnecessarily faced more problems with pay and timekeeping.
66% of workers who always softened their requests had to meet unreasonable deadlines compared to 16% who did not.
Over half said they had clients or colleagues cancel appointments at the last minute.
For small business owners, those who softened requests were eight times more likely to have late payments, chase clients for payments, or face haggling over prices.
Younger workers were most likely to use these phrases, with 75% of Gen Z employees and business owners admitting to softening their communication.
Nearly one in five employed adults said they lacked confidence discussing money, rising to one in three among small business owners.
Dr Mahrukh Khwaja, founder of Mind Ninja and member at Tide, said: “Being direct and honest with clients is an important part of business, and with time, this has become paramount.
“One corporate client took five months to pay, offering repeated excuses about internal payment system changes each time she followed up.
“The change she made was straightforward: she now raises payment terms at the very start of a client relationship and requires a 50% retainer when booking.”
Khwaja added: “It’s the type of transparency she says changed how she runs her business, and that small business owners and self-employed professionals should adopt.”
Heather Cobb, UK managing director of Tide, said: “Most people start a business because they’re good at what they do – not because they’re experts in pricing, negotiation or financial admin.
“That side of running a business can feel daunting, especially early on, and it’s easy to fall into patterns that undervalue your time or work.
“Getting the basics right makes a real difference. Being clear, professional and consistent in how you talk about pricing – even when it feels uncomfortable – helps set expectations early and avoids problems later, whether that’s chasing payments, undercharging, or feeling frustrated with clients.”
Cobb added: “At the same time, reducing the admin burden is key.
“Tools like Tide’s business current account are designed to take away a big chunk of that day-to-day financial admin, so business owners can spend less time worrying about the numbers and more time focusing on what they do best.”
