Should I stay or should I go?

Research conducted by the Kenexa Research Institute (KRI), a division of Kenexa (NASDAQ: KNXA), a leading provider of talent acquisition and retention solutions, evaluated workersí views of their immediate managers and the impact they have on their intent to leave the organization. The report is based on the analysis of data drawn from a representative sample of workers surveyed in 2007 through WorkTrendsô, KRIís annual survey of worker opinions. The survey included workers from Brazil, China, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The results from the latest cross-culture study indicate that among the six countries surveyed, 12% of workers state their manager is ineffective. Workers in the United Kingdom are more likely to rate their immediate manager unfavorably, while workers in India report the highest levels of satisfaction with their manager.

Employees view their manager as ineffective if they do not practice ethical behavior, provide useful feedback, treat people fairly and effectively manage the workload. For all workers studied, poor managers have a significant, unfavorable impact on how these workers rate their pride in their organization, willingness to recommend it as a place to work and their overall job satisfaction. Additionally, those employees who are dissatisfied with their manager state a much higher intention to leave the organization versus those who are satisfied.

Results among the six countries surveyed dramatically indicate an employee is three times more likely to state an intention to leave the organization if they have a manager who is doing a poor job in leading their team or organization. In India and China, the impact is even higher.

ìGiven the high cost of employee turnover, it is clear that poor managers within an organization dramatically increase the cost of operations. Managers who demonstrate ethical conduct, show consideration and respect, and have an open, proactive relationship with their employees can create high performing units and also do a better job of retaining talented employees,î said Jack Wiley, executive director, Kenexa Research Institute.