New research today reveals the discrepancy between how UK managers believe they’re performing and the experience of those being managed by them, with over two-thirds (67%) UK workers having left or considered leaving their job because of a bad manager. With almost 5 in 10 (46%) employees not feeling comfortable talking to their manager about mental health, the data also highlights the importance of management training in driving productivity and improving retention.
Unmind, a leading provider of workplace mental health solutions, polled 3,005 office workers (1,500 managers and 1,505 employees) to better understand how challenges around poor management and mental health support contribute to issues such as burnout and quiet quitting. While 83% of managers say they’ve had formal training in people leadership, only 63% of their direct reports believe the same. Two fifths (40%) UK workers say they don’t believe their manager has had sufficient training or the right skills to perform their role.
Those in management positions feel they need more training to improve their hard skills such as delegating effectively (29%), providing feedback (26%) and being more organised (25%). However, their direct reports say they need to upskill in softer attributes such as listening (32%) and motivating the team (30%). Similarly, while 87% of managers feel prepared to handle the challenges of the role, over half (57%) of those being managed believe their managers would benefit from further education or training, underscoring the competency gap.
When asked what areas they feel their manager lacks the most, listening was the top concern among employees, at 32%. Conversely, it was the bottom choice among managers, with only 18% stating listening was their weakest area. Interestingly, 55% of those being managed say listening is a key attribute of a good manager, while only 48% of managers say the same.
Dr Nick Taylor, CEO and co-founder of Unmind, comments: “Many managers find themselves in leadership roles without any formal training – they’re essentially accidental bosses. Our research highlights the profound impact our managers can have on our mental health, underscoring the urgent need for organisations to address the managerial skills gap. By acknowledging the incredible positive impact a skilled manager can have on their employees’ wellbeing and performance, companies can take meaningful steps to improve employee engagement, retention and ultimately the bottom line.”
When it comes to being open about mental health in the workplace, the two groups experience very different realities. Seven in ten (71%) managers say they feel comfortable having conversations about mental health, while only 54% of direct reports feel the same; in fact, a quarter (25%) feel uncomfortable. Likewise, while three-quarters (75%) of managers believe their company supports their mental health, only 63% of direct reports agree, with a huge 35% saying their company does not.
Almost a third of UK workers (28%) believe talking openly about their mental health at work could harm their chances of progression, while 27% have concerns around confidentiality. On the other hand, managers were most worried about saying the wrong thing (40%) and the stigma around certain conversations (35%). A third (32%) of all respondents said they would lie and blame a physical problem if they needed to take time off for mental health reasons, with one in ten people saying that talking about mental health is against their company culture entirely.
Over a quarter (26%) of managers and almost half (47%) of employees surveyed have never had any sort of mental health training. This has a tangible effect on productivity, as seven in ten (70%) direct reports say that having a manager who has the skills to discuss mental health would help them feel more supported and productive in their role. Similarly, 49% of managers state the lack of management training at their workplace contributes to lost productivity.
Despite these challenges, there is consensus on the need for improvement. Firstly, 42% of all those polled say there’s a need for more training in the workplace, to encourage more effective management. Specifically, 74% of managers report that people management training would help them to more effectively support employees with absences and issues stemming from poor mental health.
Unmind’s recent Randomised Controlled Trial of 300 US and UK leaders reveals that just over an hour of digital mental health training designed for managers led to significant improvements: 73% increased their mental health knowledge, 70% gained greater confidence in addressing mental health issues, and 63% engaged in more proactive behaviours to support themselves and their colleagues.
Dr Nick Taylor continues: “In today’s workforce, employees at all levels experience feelings of burnout and work-related stress. It’s essential that managers have the skills and tools to address these challenges, and mental health training must form a core part of all management training. With the right training, managers can create supportive work environments where mental health and wellbeing are championed and employees are able to perform at their best.”
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