Recent findings reveal significant challenges with management in UK workplaces.
- A third of UK employees have encountered toxic managers over five years.
- 41% of workers have quit jobs due to dissatisfaction with management.
- Key toxic manager traits include inflexibility and lack of accountability.
- Nearly half emphasize mental health support as essential for job satisfaction.
The recent Corndel Workplace Training Report 2024 has shed light on the prevalence of toxic management in UK workplaces, revealing that one-third of employees have experienced a toxic manager in the last five years. This troubling statistic highlights a pressing issue within workplace cultures across the nation.
Dissatisfaction with management practices has driven 41% of employees to leave their jobs. Toxic traits such as micromanagement, inflexibility, intimidation, and deflecting accountability are major contributors to this discontent. The impact of such management styles on employees’ experiences cannot be overstated.
The report underscores the importance of fostering mental health support and empathy within workplace cultures. Nearly half of the employees surveyed stress the significance of mental health initiatives as key to their job satisfaction. For younger employees aged 18-34, a positive workplace culture is even more critical, with 55% affirming its influence on job performance.
Despite these challenges, there is a significant gap in leadership skills. While 69% of HR leaders acknowledge the prevalence of inadequate management, only a little more than half believe their leaders have the skills to cultivate high-performing teams. Interestingly, 81% of decision-makers express confidence in their managers’ adherence to organizational values.
James Kelly, CEO of Corndel, emphasizes the shift in employee expectations from perks to structures built on empathy and inclusion. In this evolving landscape, HR leaders are urged to focus on addressing toxic workplaces by prioritizing emotional intelligence and mental health support, which are seen as pivotal to employee retention and performance.
One key factor contributing to toxic management is the rise of ‘accidental’ managers, often promoted without adequate training due to a shortage of qualified candidates. Research indicates that 82% of new managers have not received formal training, resulting in a workforce unprepared to lead effectively. A significant number of employees without effective managers plan to leave their roles within the next year.
In response to these challenges, a vast majority of HR leaders advocate for leadership training as a solution to combat toxic cultures. With training budgets set to increase in 2024, there is hope for a focus on enhancing mental health and wellbeing policies, potentially leading to more inclusive and supportive workplace environments.
Addressing toxic management through leadership development and mental health support is essential for improving workplace culture.
