ClearRock

BOSTON - Middle managers are leaving companies at about twice the rate of senior-level executives primarily due to the best job market in the past few years, according to surveys by ClearRock, an executive coaching and outplacement firm headquartered in Boston.

In addition to more employment opportunities, some middle managers have been responding to the increased demands of their jobs, as 40% of middle managers are managing a larger number of employees than before the recession, according to surveys by ClearRock.

A total of 168 companies responded to ClearRock surveys on middle management issues including retention and staffing. According to the surveys:

• 32% of companies reported an increase in turnover among middle managers, with half of them - 50% - citing the better job market as the primary reason for losing middle managers. 25% of companies reported an increase in turnover among senior-level executives, with 30% of them attributing this to the better job market.
• 40% of organizations say middle managers are now managing more employees than during the recession.
• Only one-quarter of survey respondents (25%) said middle managers are receiving more preparation for their increased duties. Three-quarters of middle managers are receiving less management training and coaching (25%), or the same amount (50%), as in previous years, to handle their increased roles and responsibilities.
• Twice as many organizations say their efforts to retain middle managers (20%) have been less successful than their efforts to retain senior-level executives (10%).
• More than one-third of organizations (34%) have implemented new or revised retention programs to try to retain middle managers, while 31% have revised their programs to retain senior-level executives in light of the better job market.

"Middle managers were the most affected by 'job anxiety' during the recession, and had to stay put due to the lack of available openings," said Annie Stevens, managing partner for ClearRock. "With increased hiring comes a greater need for managers of front-line employees and their supervisors."

"Middle managers are generally not receiving adequate management training and coaching to handle the larger numbers of employees they are managing today," added Greg Gostanian, managing partner for ClearRock. "They are leaving organizations that do not invest in them. Their own career development - receiving coaching, mentoring, other management training, and opportunities for promotion - ranks right up there with their desire for higher pay and better benefits."