Do employees leave because of bad managers?

Do Employees Really Leave Because of Bad Managers?

The saying "people don’t leave jobs; they leave managers" is widely supported by research. While bad management is a major factor in employee turnover, it is not the only reason employees seek new opportunities.

The Research Behind Employee Turnover

Studies consistently show that poor leadership directly impacts employee engagement and retention:

• Gallup (2015, 2019): Their studies consistently show that 50-70% of the variance in employee engagement is due to the manager. Employees with disengaged or ineffective managers are much more likely to leave.
• Deloitte (Global Human Capital Trends, 2019): Poor management was cited as one of the top reasons employees seek new opportunities.
• SHRM (2019 Culture Report): Found that 60% of employees consider a poor relationship with their direct manager as a reason to leave a company.
• McKinsey & Company (2022): Their study on the "Great Resignation" identified that employees leave due to a lack of meaningful work, poor leadership, and lack of growth opportunities—all of which are heavily influenced by managers.

How Poor Management Leads to High Turnover

a. Lack of Recognition & Support

• A 2022 Work Institute report found that lack of career development and growth was the #1 reason for voluntary turnover.
• Poor managers fail to recognize employees’ efforts, leading to disengagement.

b) Poor Communication & Leadership

• Employees who feel unheard or undervalued by their managers are 4.6 times more likely to leave (Gallup, 2021).
• Lack of clarity in expectations creates frustration and job dissatisfaction.

c) Micromanagement & Toxic Work Culture

• Harvard Business Review found that employees in high-micromanagement environments report 55% lower morale and higher turnover intentions.
• Toxic workplace behaviors (favoritism, hostility, lack of trust) often stem from poor leadership.

d) Burnout & Work-Life Balance

• 79% of employees cite bad managers as the reason for their work-related stress (American Psychological Association, 2021).
• Unreasonable workload expectations and lack of flexibility push employees to seek better environments.

Other Factors Beyond Managers

While managers play a crucial role, other factors also drive turnover:

• Compensation & Benefits: If employees feel underpaid, they may leave regardless of managerial quality.
• Career Advancement: Lack of promotion opportunities is a key factor in leaving.
• Company Culture: Even a good manager cannot always compensate for a toxic workplace culture.
• Job Fit: Some employees leave simply because the job wasn’t the right fit.

Final Verdict

Yes, managers are one of the biggest drivers of employee turnover, but they are not the sole reason. A bad manager can accelerate departure, while a great manager can retain employees even in challenging work environments.

How to Reduce Employee Turnover

Would you like actionable insights on how to improve management effectiveness and build a more engaged workforce? Contact us today!