Distressed at one's pay reduction being increased? (3,2)
I believe the answer is:
cut up
'distressed' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'one's pay reduction being increased?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'reduction' could be 'cut' (cut is a kind of reduction) and 'cut' is located in the answer.
'increased?' could be 'up' (something that's up has increased or risen) and 'up' is found within the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'at' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cut up that I've seen before include "Happy? No" , "affected by separation" , "Dice, chop" , "Maize, rye, corn, etc" , "so treated by another driver?" .)