The managers are not alright. While rank and file employees certainly have their own struggles, managers are feeling all the same stresses, along with more responsibilities and less support. And a new study reveals just how much managers are struggling right now.
Workloads have increased for around 71% of managers since last year, according to the 2024 Workforce Trends Report from Leapsome, a performance and engagement platform. Around 60% of managers report feeling more overwhelmed than they did a year ago, and 50% say that their mental health is deteriorating.
The latest report backs up a growing pile of data about the plight of managers, which often affects middle-aged workers in particular. And it’s a problem that bosses can’t afford to overlook any longer. Managers have an outsized impact on an entire organization because of their influence on direct reports, and they’re wildly powerful when it comes to things like employee engagement.
So why are managers feeling the pinch so much right now? Layoffs within the higher ranks of the corporate world are forcing managers to do more with less, according to the report. Around 39% of director and senior management roles have been affected by layoffs, compared to around 24% of non-managerial roles. Those purges are creating “leadership gaps,” and piling work and pressure onto the bosses that remain.
“Layoffs and hiring freezes have left many managers overseeing larger teams and shouldering heavier workloads,” the report reads. “This increased strain makes it challenging for them to offer the support and guidance their teams need to thrive.”
There’s no perfect formula to help managers navigate tougher times, but the managers themselves have some ideas. Around 44% say they need more efficient tools and systems, 45% say they need flexible work arrangements, and 42% say they need leadership skills training, according to the report. And it goes without saying that lighter workloads are in order.
So its up to each workplace and its CHRO to figure out what it takes to keep managers happy—and make sure they act before it’s too late.
Azure Gilman
azure.gilman@fortune.com
Around the Table
A round-up of the most important HR headlines.
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus announced it would lay off 2,500 workers as a part of an effort to revamp its sluggish defense and space division. AP
USPS has been accused of retaliating against a longtime employee who alleges she encountered racism at work and was harrassed after complaining about the incident. The Guardian
Harvard researchers analyzed the effects of a program drawing remote workers to Tulsa, and found that people saved an average of $25,000 on annual housing costs while potentially “reversing brain drain.” New York Times
Watercooler
Everything you need to know from Fortune.
Backtracking. The gender pay gap in 2023 widened for the first time in two decades, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report, reflecting wage setbacks from women losing or leaving their jobs during COVID. —Alexandra Olson, Claire Savage, AP
Relief. California’s lowest paid healthcare workers are about to get a pay bump—full-time employees at large hospitals will get at least $23 an hour, while those at rural facilities will make a minimum of $18 hourly. —Sophie Austin, AP
New money. At least one teenager at every U.S. high school is making $10,000 or more each year thanks to accessible side hustles on apps like TikTok, Depop, and Twitch. —Orianna Rosa Royle
Missing out. Leaders at Google, Indeed, and IBM contend that blanket degree requirements are holding businesses back from diverse talent and stifling profits. —Jane Thier
