The Great Resignation: 3/4 of Workers Would Consider Leaving Jobs With Difficult Boss

Are Irish workers discontented?

Do you have a bad relationship with your boss? If so, you’re not alone. 3 in every 4 workers have or would consider leaving a job due to a difficult relationship with a boss. More than 9 in 10 say workplace relationships and conditions have an impact on how they view their job, and at least 1 in 10 workers do not feel valued by their employer. 

The Great Resignation: 3/4 of Workers Would Consider Leaving Jobs

The Great Resignation is in full swing worldwide, with millions quitting their positions. Many workers are getting fed up with their jobs, and a difficult relationship with upper management is a major factor in this.

Almost 6 in 10 people (59%) say that the relationship they have with their boss has a major impact on their how they feel about their job, so much so that 75% say they either have left or would consider leaving, if that working relationship became too difficult.

65% say the relationship they have with their team has a big influence on their work-life experience and their attitude towards their job.

Do you feel you are valued by your employer?

These were the responses.

Yes very – 35%

Somewhat – 50%

No, not at all – 15%

These are among the findings of Taxback.com’s All-Ireland Employee Survey, which surveyed the attitudes of 1,200 employees in SMEs throughout the country.

The survey also found that workplace relations are likely to have a greater impact on female employees, with more women than men respondents saying that the relationship they have with their boss and their team affects the attitude they have towards their job “a lot”.

Key findings from the Taxback.com All-Ireland Employee Survey include:

• 10% more women than men say their relationship with their manager affects them ‘a lot’
• Marginally more women (37%) than men (34%) have actually left their job because of a difficult relationship with their boss
• More men (9%) than women (5%) said they would not consider leaving because of a difficult relationship with a boss
• 85% of workers feel valued by their employer to varying degrees – 35% say they feel “very” valued; 50% say they feel “somewhat” valued
• 12% of men say they don’t feel valued at all – but this rises to 16% of women
• Just over 1 in 10 workers do not feel valued by their employer

To what extent does the quality of the support you receive from your manager affect your attitude towards your job?             

To what extent does your relationship with your team affect your attitude towards your job?

Have you ever left a job, or would you ever consider leaving, if you had a difficult relationship with your boss?                                                                                           

Speaking of some of the findings on employee attitudes towards management, Barry Cahill, Director of the Employee Wellbeing Service at Taxback.com, said: “People spend a huge chunk of their lives working and for many, what goes on in work can often impact their emotions, and feelings outside of work”.

He continued: “So, it wasn’t altogether too surprising to learn that 39% would consider leaving a job due to a difficult relationship with a boss. What was concerning however was that a further 36% have actually left a job in the past for this reason”.

Do workers feel valued?

Feeling valued in your job can have a major effect on your motivation to continue working there. Many employees draw from those in more senior positions for motivation and direction, and if that relationship is poor, it can make people feel undervalued.

It is recommended that employers nurture a working environment that makes every employee feel valued, rewarded, and heard for their efforts. How people treat each other is paramount. Mr. Cahill said: “Our experience with the organisations we have been working with over the last 2+ years is that employers are beginning to put more and more emphasis on organisational culture and on fostering an environment in which workplace wellbeing is central”.

Remote working due to the pandemic also creates a challenge when it comes to team-building, and many workers feel lonely and excluded because of a lack of proximity to their coworkers, but, Mr. Cahill said: “We have seen great creativity in the business community when it comes to boosting and maintaining team morale, whether that is through online team building events, or gatherings and hang outs in virtual spaces.”

Mr. Cahill concluded: “The bottom line is that organisations must ensure they are doing what they can to create an inclusive environment for staff, one in which all members feel heard and supported in their requirements. Employees need to feel their boss can tune into their individual needs and provide additional support and guidance if and when necessary.”