Half (49%) of middle managers feel that they are under “excessive pressure” at work, with one-third fearing that they may lose their jobs as a result of the economic climate.
This is according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) Employee Outlook Survey, which found that middle managers felt more pressurised at work than the rest of the workforce, with 37% of workers overall feeling under excessive pressure in their jobs once a week or more.
Job security was also found to be more of a concern for middle managers than any other group, with one in three (29%) believing that it was likely they might lose their jobs, compared with 21% of employees with no managerial responsibilities and 15% of senior managers.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, middle managers were found to be less happy with their work-life balance than those not in a management role. More than two-thirds (70%) of non-managerial staff were satisfied with the balance between their job and their home-life, compared with less than half (44%) of middle managers.
Ben Willmott, head of public policy at the CIPD, commented that middle managers can often get caught between delivering strategic objectives and managing under-pressure line managers.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
He adds: “They can also be first in line when organisations look to reduce head count. While middle management will undoubtedly bear its share of job losses in organisations needing to reduce head count, it is also important to remember the crucial role these managers play in managing change, translating the objectives of senior managers into actions, and motivating others.
“It is also important that employers don’t ignore the health and wellbeing of their middle managers. With one-fifth of middle managers saying they are under excessive pressure every day, they are particularly at risk of suffering from work-related stress and burnout.”
