Member Article

Bullying and bad management rife in region's workplaces

Bad management and bullying is rife in North East workplaces, according to a new study by an international law firm. Nine out of ten employees have worked for a bad manager the research by Eversheds revealed, with almost one in ten North East employees admitting their current boss is a bully. The report, a national study into management styles, canvassed the views of 100 employees in the North East and 1500 across the country. It reveals that just over a quarter of North East-based workers believe management styles have become too harsh during the last year, with more than fifty per cent admitting that they have worked for a bully. The study also shows a lack of communication skills among the region’s managers. The overwhelming majority of workers (94 per cent) would like their bosses to communicate more clearly and directly. Specifically, employees would like to see an end to management speak, with phrases such as ‘are we all singing from the same hymn sheet’ and ‘thinking outside of the box’ causing particular irritation. Simon Loy at Eversheds law firm in Newcastle, comments on the findings: “Strong and effective leadership should be at the heart of all good businesses, but these findings make troubling reading. The report shows that poor communication, lack of direction and weak decision making are widespread among bosses in the North East. However, the results suggest that workers don’t want their managers to be too straight talking - over 50% of employees in the North East say they wouldn’t work for plain-speaking Sir Alan Sugar, the star of BBC2’s The Apprentice. Mr Loy concluded: “This study highlights the importance of training at every level within an organisation. Failing to invest in managers could have a real impact on the bottom line as there is strong correlation between the quality of management and productivity.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .