News: Performance Management
'UK employees lack trust in their managers'
27 February 2008
Less than a third of UK employees have complete trust in their manager, research has revealed – highlighting the importance of management training.
The research, released by Investors in People, also found that 55 per cent of employees believe that their manager only has their best interests at heart when it suits them.
Conducted by YouGov, the poll discovered that 49 per cent of workers claimed their managers are most likely to let them down by failing to provide the support needed to do their job, 48 per cent said they fail to respond to concerns expressed by employees and 45 per cent said they withhold information which impacts on them.
Simon Jones, acting chief executive at Investors in People UK, said: "Lack of trust in UK workplaces is a major concern. Trust is fundamental to building and maintaining effective relationships between managers and teams, and the bedrock of success."
Alan Bourne, director of people assessment firm Talent Q, told the Sunday Times that managers need to dedicate more time to giving staff effective appraisals and adopt a supportive, consultative style.
The research by Investors in People revealed that a third of employees would prefer more regular feedback on their work.
KPMG head of leadership development Akber Pandor told the news source that managers often do not believe they need any special training for giving appraisals.
He has consequently encouraged employees being appraised to assess their appraising managers.
