Bad bosses drive dissatisfaction

It’s often not the job that people don’t like, but the boss. And one-third of workers consider their bosses or supervisors to be fair or poor. That’s according to staffing firm Hudson, which last week released its monthly Hudson Employment Index.

Based on phone interviews with about 9,000 U.S. workers, the Hudson Employment Index measures employee attitudes on work issues such as career opportunities, job satisfaction and workplace performance. The March index was 106.8, virtually unchanged from February’s value of 106.9.

From what respondents are saying, though, there’s a lot of room for managerial improvement. Of those who rate their bosses as poor, 56% are looking for another job. That compares to 22% of those who rate their bosses as excellent. Overall, 29% of respondents are looking for a job, which is consistent with previous months of 2004.

“Hudson’s research reinforces the adage that people don’t leave bad companies, they leave bad managers,” says Jeff Anderson, senior vice president of Hudson Global Resources. “Workers who rate their bosses less positively are less likely to have fun at work, enjoy day-to-day tasks and see opportunities for advancement within their current organization.”

One factor that may influence perceptions of managers is something the immediate supervisor may not have any control over – whether or not firms are adding or reducing headcount. In companies that are hiring, 71% of employees say their bosses are good or excellent. And at companies that are laying off staff, only 50% gave such favorable impressions of their bosses.

You can find more information about the Hudson Employment Index at https://www.hudson-index.com/