On the surface this year looks pretty much like the last. The economy is predicted to remain largely the same with pay budgets and settlements similar to 2014; but beneath the surface the reality is very different. Pressures on HR will be coming from all directions. Employees, who understand their value and aren’t afraid to make a move to another company or to work from themselves, will vote with their feet. So to keep good people HR will need to be much more strategic with their pay awards – and to do that will need a deep understanding of their business and the market.