Increased Pressure Stretches Managers as Employees Return to Offices

Rhea-AI Summary

New research from Qualtrics (NASDAQ: XM) reveals that 43% of managers and 41% of senior leaders feel increased pressure to produce results compared to last year. Additionally, 43% of managers report feeling pressured to be visible to leadership, while nearly half of Gen Z workers express similar stresses. The study points to a growing trend of managerial burnout, with 28% of managers considering job changes in the next six months. Conducted in August 2022, the survey highlights the urgent need for companies to support their managerial staff during these challenging times.

Positive

• 43% of managers feel increased pressure to produce results.
• 57% of job seekers believe a new role will help reduce burnout.

Negative

• 43% of managers feel pressured to be visible to leadership regardless of achievements.
• 28% of managers are considering leaving their jobs within the next six months.

Work-related stress is weighing on managers and senior leaders, who are more likely than other workers to consider leaving

PROVO, Utah & SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As the US undergoes a monumental shift in working habits, managers and senior leaders are feeling more pressure at work - not only to produce results, but also to be more visible to company leadership.

New research from Qualtrics (Nasdaq: XM) finds that 43% of managers and 41% of senior leaders feel more pressure to produce results than they did a year ago. In addition to that pressure, in the new world of remote and hybrid work, 43% of managers also say they feel more pressure to be visible to leadership, regardless of their achievements.

Uncertainty about when and how often workers will have to be in the office continues to be a persistent source of tension between executives and employees. During the height of the pandemic, reports of burnout and mental health problems increased dramatically, and 58% of American workers attributed their mental health challenges to their jobs. And now, as organizations implement new return-to-office policies, they are looking to managers to enforce sometimes unpopular policies and manage teams from afar.

“Companies simply cannot take their managers for granted. They carry an increasingly heavy load and are the connective tissue that holds an organization together, especially during times of uncertainty and change,” said Qualtrics Chief Workplace Psychologist Dr. Benjamin Granger. “As we learned during the pandemic, it is essential that we care for our caregivers, and that applies in the workplace as well. Every company needs to be tuned in to how their people leaders are really doing, and identify ways to directly support them.”

The added stress may be pushing these groups to look for new jobs. Managers and senior leaders are more likely to look for a new job in the next six months than individual contributors and C-suite leaders. Qualtrics research shows that 57% of job seekers believe a new role will help them feel less burned out.

Young Workers Are Also Feeling the Heat

Young people who are newer to the workforce and may be concerned about layoffs are also more stressed about their work. Nearly half (47%) of Gen Z workers, ages 18-24 years old, feel increased pressure to produce results, and 42% of them say they are under more pressure to be visible to leadership, the highest levels among all age groups.

	Feel Increased Pressure to Produce Results	Feel Increased Pressure to be Visible to Leadership, Regardless of Work Achievements	Planning to Leave their Job in the Next Six Months
Overall	39%	32%	26%
Individual Contributors	36%	23%	24%
Managers (manages one or more people)	43%	43%	28%
Senior Leaders (oversees organizations; manages one or more teams)	41%	35%	29%
C-Level Executive	38%	25%	16%

Methodology

This study was fielded in August 2022. Respondents were selected from a randomized panel and considered eligible if they live in the United States, are at least 18 years of age and working full-time. The total number of respondents was more than 1,000.

About Qualtrics

Qualtrics, the leader and creator of the experience management category, is changing the way organizations manage and improve the four core experiences of business—customer, employee, product and brand. Over 16,750 organizations around the world use Qualtrics to listen, understand and take action on experience data (X-data™)—the beliefs, emotions and intentions that tell you why things are happening, and what to do about it. The Qualtrics XM Platform™ is a system of action that helps businesses attract customers who stay longer and buy more, engage employees who build a positive culture, develop breakthrough products people love and build a brand people are passionate about. To learn more, please visit qualtrics.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220930005136/en/

Lauren Braun, Qualtrics

press@qualtrics.com

Source: Qualtrics

FAQ

What does the Qualtrics research indicate about managerial pressure?

The research indicates that 43% of managers feel increased pressure to produce results compared to last year.

What percentage of Gen Z workers report stress related to work pressure?

47% of Gen Z workers aged 18-24 report increased pressure to produce results.

How does work-related stress affect managers' job considerations?

The study shows that 28% of managers are planning to leave their jobs in the next six months.

What key finding relates to visibility pressure among managers?

43% of managers feel pressured to be visible to leadership, regardless of their work achievements.

When was the Qualtrics study conducted?

The study was conducted in August 2022.