One In Four British Workers Feel Failed By Their Managers

British businesses are being held back by managers who fail to get the best out of their staff, according to the latest Workers' Index published by MORI and The Work Foundation. Almost one in four employees (24%) say that they are not inspired by their bosses and just over a quarter (27%) say that senior managers fail to provide them with a clear vision.

Moreover the situation has deteriorated since the first Workers' Index in February this year. At that time two-thirds (66%) of employees said that their managers had a clear vision for the organisation whereas now fewer that three in five (57%) feel this way.

Furthermore, 60% of those critical of their employer identify improving the quality of management as the top priority for the organisation, while it is mentioned by just 18% of those who would speak highly of their employer.

Gideon Skinner, Research Director at MORI, says, "Our employee research shows that both line managers and senior managers play a key role in successful organisations. Managing day-to-day issues is just the beginning; staff also pick up on the vision (or lack of) for their organisation set out by senior management, and how likely are you to be enthusiastic about your company if your line manager can't be?"

Topline Results

• This is the second wave of the Workers Index, which tracks employees' views towards their organisation, their management, and their priorities for helping them do a better job.
• MORI interviewed a representative sample of 1,028 adults in 197 sampling points across Great Britain. Respondents are all full or part time workers or self employed.
• Fieldwork took place between 6-13 October 2005, face-to-face in respondents' homes.
• Where results do not sum to 100, this may be due to multiple responses, computer rounding or the exclusion of don't knows/not stated.
• An asterisk (*) represents a value of less than one half or one percent, but not zero.
• Data are weighted to the profile of the British population.
• Trend results are shown against the first wave of the Workers Index, which interviewed 970 British adults in work between 17-21 February 2005.

Q1 How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Senior management have a clear vision of where this organisation is going. Base: All full and part time workers (excluding self employed)

My line manager inspires me to do a better job. Base: All full and part time workers (excluding self employed)

Q2 Thinking about your organisation and your role within it, which three or four of these things, if any, are most needed to help you do a better job?