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The Great Resignation is Hitting Managers the Hardest

December 13, 2021

By Heather Nezich, courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASE

A new study by Oracle NetSuite and Wakefield Research examines the impact on businesses of the Great Resignation. The study of 500 executives, managers, and workers across the U.S. found that despite managers and workers both working longer hours, managers are more worried about burnout and much more likely to quit without having a new job lined up.

Manager Burnout

Longer hours have impacted managers harder than employees and are leading to more burnout among managers.

  • The 40-hour week has ended for executives, managers, and workers. The average manager is now working 49 hours each week – with 60% spending more time on hiring than in 2019 – the average executive is working 48 hours a week, and the average worker is working 46 hours a week.
  • Longer hours are impacting executives, managers, and workers differently. Managers are the most worried about burnout with 37% of managers identifying burnout as a key reason for leaving, compared with 28% of executives, and only 13% of workers.
  • Managers have been hit hardest by the burnout. 47% of managers are considering taking a less demanding job and 35% are considering quitting without having another job lined up. In contrast, only 9% of workers have considered quitting without having a job lined up.

Executives See Things in a More Positive Light Than Both Managers and Workers

How executives, managers, and workers think about work are very different from one another.

  • While nearly half of managers say they’re considering seeking a less demanding job, only 28% of executives think burnout is the top reason employees would leave the company.
  • Only 34% of executives think hiring is more difficult now than it was in 2019.  Comparatively, 48% of workers say their job is more difficult now.

“As a record number of employees reevaluate their roles and make changes in their careers, businesses have faced new and changing talent challenges,” said Art Wittmann, editor, Oracle NetSuite. “As our survey shows, the added stress of constant business change and a difficult hiring environment has left managers feeling burned out. While executives are stressed by supply chain problems and meeting growing demands, it’s the managers who’ve had to see to business while managing COVID-19 restrictions. The data shows about half of managers have had enough and are considering taking on a less demanding job.”

Executives are insulated from the day-to-day challenges. If they don’t pay attention to the happiness and engagement of their managers, they could find themselves in a much tougher staffing position than they’re in now.

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