BlessingWhite research reveals managerial crisis in UK

Research from global HR consultancy BlessingWhite has revealed a managerial crisis at the heart of UK Plc, with alarming implications for business here as it enters a period of global economic uncertainty.

According to the study, which analysed the views of over 7,000 professionals worldwide, the UK's managers are uninspiring and failing to motivate their employees when compared with managers in the rest of the world. Nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of UK workforce respondents to BlessingWhite's research categorised themselves as discontented and unproductive - or 'disengaged'. This means up to 6.4 million workers are neither happy in their job nor doing much for their organisation, and proportionately puts the UK second only to China as having the most 'disengaged' workforce on the planet.

Based on the research, less than a quarter of the overall UK workforce (23 per cent) describe themselves as 'fully engaged'. The situation is most dire among those just entering the labour force - the so called 'Generation Y' - where almost half categorise themselves as dissatisfied, or worse. This is the group managers must work hardest to hold on to by increasing satisfaction and commitment levels.

The cause of this malaise among the workforce? BlessingWhite's research points the finger firmly at UK managers and their failure to inspire loyalty and commitment among workers. Only three per cent of those interviewed would stay in their role because they were committed to their boss, and fewer than one in five feel those who lead them are offering them significant advancement opportunities.

Unfortunately, at a time when UK Plc needs strong and effective leaders in place to engage and motivate their team, the survey also found that 11 per cent of UK managers definitely plan to leave their current roles at some point this year - with a further 40 per cent wavering. This is the highest in the world, narrowly ahead of South East Asia at 10 per cent. Continental Europe comes in at 6 per cent.

Tom Barry, European Managing Director, BlessingWhite comments on the findings: At this time of economic uncertainty businesses need reliable and consistent leadership to inspire employees to achieve high performance and help them stay competitive - these results make for bleak reading. If 11% of leaders mean to leave then that's a lot of people without engaged leadership, just when it is most needed. If a manager is unhappy, disengaged and planning to leave, you can bet your bottom dollar that he is not doing his job particularly well.

It is also impossible to retain employees without the right level of managerial engagement, and according to our study, 54% of UK managers will 'probably' or 'definitely' leave their organisation in 2008.

This problem must be addressed. Managers need to understand how to unlock their inner motivators and use them to drive their own, and others' engagement on a daily basis.

For further information on BlessingWhite and this research, The State of Engagement 2008 please visit