5 Common Employee-Manager Issues

It’s commonly said that employees leave managers, not companies. There are all kinds of issues that come up between managers and employees, but we’ve compiled five common problems that employees report in their everyday work lives. 

Not knowing employees

While it’s not possible for every manager to know who every single person in the company is, managers should know every one of their direct reports by name and face. Don’t believe this is an issue? 36% of people reported that their bosses don’t know who they are. Even if you manage a large department or team, devote time to memorizing names and faces. And bonus points to the executive team for knowing everyone! Nothing can compare to the impact of a CEO speaking to and recognizing employees by name.   

Not saying thank you

Of course, you expect employees to do their job. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t say thank you now and then. 20% of employees never receive a thank you from their employers. It doesn’t have to be a big show. Most employees don’t need to be incentivized to simply do their job well. But an occasional thank you from their managers can go a long way. 

Not having time for employees

Managers are busy. But having time for their employees is part of their job. If your company has an open door policy, enforce it. Make it clear that employees can get ahold of their managers directly without having to jump through hoops to have an in-person conversation. Or go the extra mile by inviting employees to use more personal forms of communication. 

Not providing clear direction

Employees shouldn’t have to play a guessing game to determine what you want. Providing clear direction from the very beginning can make projects go quicker and more successfully. Offering assistance along the way or checking in to make sure progress is being done is also a great idea – as long as it doesn’t turn into micromanaging. There is a fine line between offering direction and taking over a project. 

Not giving credit

Have you ever had someone steal your idea? It’s a terrible feeling, yet many managers take their employees ideas without offering any credit. This can happen accidentally – an employee mentions something in passing and the manager may not even remember who said it – or more intentionally with the manager presenting the idea as his own to cut out the employee. However it happens, it’s very hurtful to the employee. With nearly half of all employees surveyed for a Business Insider article reporting that a superior had taken credit for their idea, this is clearly an issue that needs to be dealt with.

If you or someone in your company needs a little refresher on how to improve management skills, now’s the time. Check out our on-demand courses or join us on a free live webinar soon.