Research shows the older the employee, the less well managed they think they
are
Only two out of five employees feel they are getting sufficient help to
manage their stress levels at work, and older workers are most critical of
managers’ skills.
Research commissioned by the Industrial Society Learning and Development,
part of outsourcing specialist Capita, asked 850 full-time and part-time
workers what they thought about their immediate bosses’ management abilities.
While 59 per cent rated their general line management skills positively,
three out of five felt they were getting insufficient help with workplace
stress.
One in four (26 per cent) of full-time workers and almost one in five (19
per cent) of part timers described their manager’s stress management skills as
‘poor’ or ‘very poor’.
According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, stress is
the most common cause of long-term absence, with stress-related sick days
costing British industry an estimated £7.1m a week.
Younger people, said the study, generally had a more positive outlook than
those in their later working years. And the older the employee, the less
generally well managed they thought they were.
Christine Garner, managing director of Industrial Society Learning and Development
said: "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."
