Skip to main content

Managers are the most satisfied with their lot

Jan 16 2006 by Nic Paton
Print This Article

They're powerful, often wealthy and, according to the latest survey, the happiest of workers of all – they are people in upper and middle management.

The survey of nearly 294,000 employees, including nearly 2,400 senior executives, by researcher Sirota Survey Intelligence has found top managers and those rising up the management pole tend to be more satisfied with their employers and careers than non-management workers.

Senior-level executives and middle managers were also much more satisfied when it came to things such as opportunities to improve their skills, career advancement, satisfaction with the work they do and teamwork.

They were also more satisfied with the speed of decision making, understanding of the business strategy, opportunities to be innovative, leadership effectiveness, teamwork between departments and personal accountability.

There was little difference top and middle managers and non-managers when it came to satisfaction with product innovation and the direction of their business, said Sirota.

But before top managers become too smug, they were generally dissatisfied with their work-life balance, with senior executives the most unhappy of all.

"The most senior group feels more empowered, with more opportunity, challenges and a strong understanding of, and connection to, the company's business strategy," said Sirota chief executive Jeffrey Saltzman.

"In general, upper-level executives are more upbeat. But while they are more positive on overall satisfaction, they face frustration and other issues just like everyone else," he added.

It was around work-life balance that there were the biggest concerns, he suggested, particularly around the dramatic increase in the pace of business and the need to be available at all times, anywhere in the world.

"To cope with the need to be available 'off-hours' most employees are taking care of some personal business during the work day," argued Saltzman.

"Although most companies do not have formal policies addressing this, it has been evolving in the workplace.

"These trends may continue, since we are unlikely to see an overall decrease in work demands on our lives," he concluded.

Latest book reviews

MORE BOOK REVIEWS

The Confidence Myth

The Confidence Myth

Ginka Toegel

How can women leaders break free from gendered perceptions? Professor Ginka Toegel’s new book challenges the narrative that female leaders lack confidence or that women need to "fix" themselves, arguing for a fundamental shift in how organisations recognise and reward competence.

Super Adaptability: How to Transcend in an Age of Overwhelm

Super Adaptability: How to Transcend in an Age of Overwhelm

Max McKeown

Max Mckeown's heavyweight new book draws from neuroscience, psychology and cultural evolution to develop a practical framework for human adaptability.

The Enlightened Manager

The Enlightened Manager

Vishwanath Alluri and Harry Eyres

Can we truly manage others without first understanding ourselves? This is the question at the heart of a book that takes an unconventional approach to management by drawing on the teachings of the teacher and philosopher, Jiddu Krishnamurti.