No joke. Some people would rather have a root canal than ask for a pay raise.

A new survey of 1,000 full-time office workers by staffing firm Robert Half, part of its Confidence Matters research, showed the vast majority of workers (89%) thought they deserved a raise. However, only 54% planned to ask for that raise. To bolster your confidence in asking for a raise:

• Do your research so that you know what employers are paying for comparable positions

• Pull your performance reports and list of accomplishments so that you're clear what value you've brought to your employer

• Time the ask appropriately

Here's a handy infographic showing the fascinating results.

Robert Half Confidence Matters: Do Workers Have What it Takes When it Comes to Jobs and Money? (PRNewsFoto/Robert Half)