One-third of UK Employees Have Suffered Under a Toxic Manager, Confirms Research

One-third of UK employees have suffered under the grip of a ‘toxic manager’ in the last five years, according to a new study.

Additionally, over four in 10 employees have left a job as a result of dissatisfaction with management, according to Corndel’s Workplace Training Report 2024. The worrying findings are based on research with 250 HR decision makers and 1,000 UK employees. Toxic management traits including micromanagement, inflexibility, intimidation, gaslighting colleagues and deflecting accountability.  

This is having a significant impact on employees’ experiences at work. Nearly half of the employees (47%) state that mental health support and empathy from their workplace are crucial for their job satisfaction. Additionally, 46% feel that a positive workplace culture boosts their job performance, increasing to 55% among younger employees aged 18-34. 

Meanwhile, nearly seven in 10 HR leaders admit that ‘bad managers’ are a prevalent issue within their organisations. Moreover, only 54% of HR professionals believe their organisation’s leaders possess the necessary skills to cultivate effective high performing teams. But in contrast, 81% of HR decision makers are confident that their managers uphold the organisation’s values. 

ACCIDENTAL MANAGERS LACKING KEY SKILLS

James Kelly, CEO of Corndel, urges swift action, emphasising the need for empathy and emotional intelligence. “In an era where company culture is actively promoted and workplace mental health is marketed as an employee benefit, ensuring that employees’ lived experiences meets their expectations for management culture is key. The evolving expectations of employees are moving beyond free breakfasts and ping-pong tables to influencing organisational structures built on empathy and inclusion, with mental health and wellbeing support baked into the culture,” explained Kelly.  “HR decision-makers must prioritise finding solutions for toxic workplaces, recognising that empathy, emotional intelligence and mental health support are critical factors in enhancing employee retention, performance, and job satisfaction.”

The rise of ‘accidental’ managers lacking formal training exacerbates the issue, noted the report. The high number of toxic managers are partly due to ‘accidental’ managers being promoted into more senior roles; especially when there’s been a lack of qualified candidates as a result of the UK’s skills shortage over the last few years. Recent research by the Chartered Institute of Managers found 82% of workers who enter management positions have not had any formal management and leadership training. Additionally, half of people who don’t have an effective manager plan to leave their organisation in the next 12 months. 

CULTIVATING MANAGEMENT SKILLS FOR SUCCESS

HR leaders nearly unanimously agree (99%) that leadership training is an effective approach to combating a toxic workplace culture. Additionally, more than half (54%) believe that workplace training can completely eliminate toxicity. 

Over six in ten (62%) organisations will increase their training budgets in 2024, up from 48% in 2023. Furthermore, 90% of HR decision-makers recognise that mental health significantly impacts business performance. This suggests a shift towards improved mental health and wellbeing policies being woven into workplace culture in the near future.

 “Our report emphasises that urgent action is required to prevent the domino effect of toxic managers on employee wellbeing, engagement, and retention. By prioritising leadership development that focuses on ‘human’ management skills, emotional intelligence and mental health support, HR teams can combat toxic management cultures and build motivated, psychologically secure teams,” concluded Kelly.

Download the full report here.

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