A new global study by the UKG Workforce Institute has identified how managers have a major impact on employees’ productivity and engagement, as well as other factors that create a great place to work. However, managers also report the highest levels of burnout at work, underlining the critical need for more organisational support in order to be the most effective in their roles.
About three in four employees (73 per cent) say their manager’s support, encouragement, and/or leadership directly motivates them to go above and beyond in the workplace, and more than a third of employees (37 per cent) say having a good manager – one who’s accessible but doesn’t micro-manage – makes them feel the most productive at work. Moreover, according to the UKG study:
- 87 per cent of employees believe their manager trusts them.
- 79 per cent of employees say their manager supports their career goals.
- 75 per cent of employees feel their manager cares for and has empathy for them.
- 63 per cent of employees say their manager supports them as a whole person.
When it comes to open communication, a pillar of building a great place to work for all people, 59 per cent of employees say their manager is approachable and easy to talk with. A majority of employees also have regular conversations with their manager that motivate them – including 19 per cent of employees who say these conversations occur daily and over one third (35 per cent) saying the constructive chats happen weekly.
While managers have a great impact on fostering a great workplace, the UKG study reveals they’re also feeling a great crunch from the role’s responsibilities. Eight in 10 managers (86 per cent) report experiencing job burnout (i.e. work-related stress associated with physical and emotional exhaustion) – the most of any group, including employees (82 per cent) and even C-suite leaders (73 per cent). So much so, that nearly half (49 per cent) of all managers surveyed say they would accept a pay cut to reduce their workload.
“We’ve long said at UKG that great managers are key to creating great workplaces — and this study affirms that belief,” said Pat Wadors, chief people officer at UKG. “Though, like the safety instructions about oxygen masks on airplanes, managers need the full support of their organisations first, in order to fully support their employees. The good news is nearly half (46 per cent) of the C-suite leaders we surveyed say their companies offer training on people skills, performance management, and more in support of managers’ success — but there’s still work to do.”
