Employers in the UK are becoming better managers but are failing to address
the growing tide of workplace stress.
A survey of more than 850 full and part-time workers finds that although
almost 60 per cent rate the skills of their line manager positively, only two
in five employees feel they are getting sufficient help to manage their stress
levels at work.
The survey by the Industrial Society Learning and Development also reveals
that one in four full-time workers and almost one in five part-time staff describe
their manager’s stress management skills as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’.
Christine Garner, managing director of the Industrial Society Learning &
Development, believes the findings are bad news for UK business, with stress
representing the most common cause of long-term absence.
The research finds that 75 per cent of women think their bosses treat them
fairly compared to 65 per cent of men.
It also reveals the older the employee, the less generally well-managed they
feel; as many as 48 per cent of interviewees aged 55 or over are negative about
their immediate manager, compared to only 26 per cent of 15-24 year olds.
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Garner, said: "Poor stress management seems to be the Achilles heel of
management skills – to the detriment of the individual, the workplace and
ultimately the economy."
"These findings also suggest that businesses should be sensitive to the
needs of their older employees, who seem to face increasing dissatisfaction
with their bosses’ general management skills as they get older – with a gradually
ageing workforce, this is an issue firms can’t afford to ignore."
