Poor managers have a negative affect on employees’ mental health and performance at work, according to new research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
The professional body for HR and people development’s The importance of people management report found that half (50%) of those whose bosses ranked in the bottom quartile of its manager quality index said that their work negatively impacts their mental health. This was just 14% among those whose managers were in the top quartile.
The study showed that when it came to feeling often or always under excessive pressure, nearly two in five (39%) of employees with the worst bosses believe this to be the case, compared to only 14% of those with the best ones.
Job satisfaction was lower among workers with lowest quartile ranked managers than among those with the highest quartile rated ones, at 30% and 88% respectively.
Additionally, almost three in four (74%) of individuals with highly rated managers volunteer to go above and beyond the requirements of their role, only 38% of people with the lowest rated managers would do the same.
In response, the CIPD has highlighted a need for better selection and development of people managers to ensure they have the required skills to lead and support their workforces.
Ben Willmott, head of public policy at the CIPD, said: “This research starkly shows that poor managers that lack key people management skills can have a very negative effect on the mental health, job satisfaction and performance of the people they manage.
“It also highlights that good manager behaviour can help mitigate against people experiencing excessive workloads and stress. Managers who treat people fairly and provide effective feedback and support, while also developing their staff and helping employees to work together, are likely to have happier, healthier and higher performing teams.
“Employers need to think carefully about how they recruit and develop managers at all levels to ensure they are equipped with the people management skills needed to manage people effectively.”
