Discontented staff and managers on the move

There’s a worrying dis-satisfaction among employees and middle managers, research is revealing.

Friday, 13 June 2008

One in three employees in the UK expects to move jobs within the next 12 months, and only an improvement in staff engagement seems likely to stop them, according to market research company GfK NOP.

They have found that 17 per cent plan to leave as soon as possible, while a further 12 per cent expect to go within a year.

Dis-satisfaction with employers and a lack of manager engagement are cited as the main causes.

Sukhi Ghataore, associate director at GfK NOP Employee Research, said: “These results make worrying reading. However, the good news is that often simple methods of engaging and rewarding employees can go a long way to enhancing satisfaction and improving loyalty.”

Meanwhile, research by HR consultancy BlessingWhite shows that 51 per cent of middle managers definitely plan to leave their current roles at some point this year, or are wavering. And in addition, nearly a third of middle managers said they don’t trust their senior management team.

Tom Barry, European managing director at BlessingWhite, said: “Our research has revealed that many senior managers appear to be issuing strategies from an ivory tower. Their direction can’t filter through middle managers that don’t trust them.

“Business leaders must give middle managers the structure and tools they need to help staff establish a strong connection with, and commitment to, their work.

“But they must also find a genuine, authentic leadership voice themselves – one that inspires trust. The most successful companies make employee engagement an ongoing priority, not a once-a-year event. Without trust, engagement initiatives can seem hollow.”

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