Research from Jobrapido has found more than a third of UK workers (36 per cent) are planning to leave their company imminently because their boss does not inspire them, fails to listen to them or create a clear career structure. Within twelve months, two thirds of employees plan to leave due to their boss’s poor leadership style.
Given the current challenges that UK businesses face to attract and retain talent, the latest statistics shine are worrying for business owners. According to statistics from Eurostat, there is a 2.7 vacancy rate in the UK, on the highest level compared to last decade. Jobrapido’s research was conducted amongst 1444 employees across more than twenty different industry sectors including sales, marketing, engineering, transportation, construction and technology. The research took place between June-July 2019.
When respondents of the research were asked which characteristic of their boss in order for them to remain in the company, nearly half (47 per cent) believe a boss should have is to inspire their staff and make them want to stay. A further 39 per cent believe that the ability to listen is the most important quality for a manager. Ten per cent believe that bosses should provide a clear career structure for all their staff and not just a select few.
“In UK, the demand is becoming vigorously strong and far outstripping the supply for talent,” said Rob Brouwer, CEO of Jobrapido. “There is clearly a need for bosses, line manages and HR departments to pay even more attention to the need not only to attract the best talents on the market but, once on board, to look at all the way to engage and retain them.
“The issue can arise because staff and senior management, whilst technically brilliant at the job and or excellent at running a business, have never received training of how to lead, manage and nurture the careers of other members of their team,” he added. “If Britain’s bosses are keen to retain their staff, then they should look at ways to inspire them and perhaps, getting direct and constructive feedback via 360-degree reviews from all their staff; also, wherever possible, look at how they can address any concerns and give adequate responses.”
Brouwer believes no boss or line manager should think they are above learning new skills if it can help to bolster the company spirit and retain talent. “Embarking on the right leadership training or a series of courses will be an important step to inspire staff so they feel inclined to stay for many more years within the company, considering how crucial the talent is for a company business and its success on the short and the long term,” he concludes.
