It’s easy to blame managers for employee disengagement. Has it ever crossed your mind that they’re being handed an almost impossible task.
According to new research by Gallup, managers have been expected to juggle new executive demands, shrinking budgets, digital disruption, and rapidly changing employee expectations around flexibility and wellbeing.
We need to tackle the real issue of employee health head-on, beginning with how we support our managers.
Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2025 report says stress, sadness, and loneliness are on the rise among managers.
At the same time, the percentage of employees feeling disengaged at work now is the same as pre-pandemic. It's low at 21% but it's consistent.
Managers are struggling.
Gallup finds that 70% of a team’s engagement is directly attributable to its manager. When managers struggle, entire teams and whole businesses feel the impact.
If you want to stop your staff leaving your organisation muttering about 'bad managers' under their breath then you really need to look at what's happening with your managers themselves.
Give managers stretching and possible tasks
Ensure that people understand and are trained on new tools, like AI
Support them to manage hybrid teams properly
Train them well to manage change
Give them access to mental health support
It is cost effective to invest in your employees. ?The average employee turnover rate in the UK is now reported at around 35%, meaning more than one in three employees leave their jobs each year.
Replacing each employee costs between 75% and 200% of their annual salary.
How much better would it be to use that money to support your managers, rather than lose valuable employees that you've spent time and money recruiting and training?
Supporting them with access to a mental health professional is great and may help an immediate issue. And for a longer-term remedy why not work with one of our associates so you set realistic and resourced solutions for your teams.
It's easy to blame managers. Instead of blaming managers, let's support them to do a role that's achievable and enjoyable.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments..
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