In a recent report published on June 13 by Perceptyx, an employee insights company, it has been revealed that unresponsive, unsupportive, and disrespectful managers are causing a significant loss of engagement and productivity in the workplace. The report also highlights that nearly one-fourth of employees are currently working under the supervision of the worst manager they have ever encountered, particularly due to certain detrimental behaviors.
When asked to evaluate their managers, employees predominantly focused on the quality of responsiveness. The findings indicated that unresponsive bosses were 25 times more likely to be labeled as “bad bosses,” while those who received high ratings for responsiveness were five times more likely to be regarded as “good bosses.”
Additionally, employees used terms such as “incompetent” (46%), “unsupportive” (46%), “disrespectful” (28%), and “unfair” (27%) to describe their worst bosses.
However, the report also delivers positive news, as 64% of workers reported having the best boss they have ever had. The top three qualities shared by these exemplary managers were professionalism, trustworthiness, and care.
Emily Killham, the director of research and insight at Perceptyx, commented on the findings, stating, “The words that we see cited most often—supportive, trustworthy, and caring, as well as their opposites when we ask about bad bosses—show that people want to be able to connect with managers as humans rather than the relationships being transactional.” She emphasized the importance of managers ensuring that employees feel supported through reliable, timely, and complete communication, especially during times of increased workforce anxiety caused by layoff news.
The report emphasizes that these manager-employee relationships are crucial not only for productivity but also for the organization’s bottom line. A survey conducted among 1,500 managers and 1,500 employees revealed that individuals working under their worst bosses were three times more likely to be disengaged and nearly four times more likely to express intentions to quit within the next 12 months. These employees were also twice as likely to experience negative health effects, such as sleep disturbances, decreased productivity due to stress, and increased alcohol consumption.
Furthermore, the report highlighted significant discrepancies between the perceptions of employees and managers regarding various evaluated aspects. Both employees (40%) and managers (32%) acknowledged responsiveness as an important quality in a boss, but only 29% of employees rated their managers as responsive compared to 41% of managers. Moreover, while only 17% of managers believed they required coaching in responsiveness, 27% of employees expressed the need for their managers to improve in this area.
“Employees want better communication and more support from managers, and managers and employees alike are telling us they would like more training to provide that support,” said Killham.
In conclusion, the Perceptyx report sheds light on the detrimental effects of unresponsive, unsupportive, and disrespectful managers on employee engagement and productivity. It underscores the importance of managers cultivating relationships based on professionalism, trustworthiness, and care to enhance employee satisfaction and organizational success.
