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Global survey shows U.S. employees give highest marks to their

managers
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February 25, 2008

A new global survey shows U.S. employees have among the most positive opinions and friendliest relationships with their
managers, leading them to be the least likely to disobey their supervisors direction than other international workers.
U.S. employees are also most likely to perceive their managers as competent, talented and open to feedback, according
to 5,500 workers surveyed in 10 countries by BPI, a leading European management and HR consulting firm that owns a
majority interest in Chicago-based SSP-BPI Group.
The international Employees Assess Their Manager survey sought insights about differences in workplaces and
managerial styles by asking employees to rate their relationship with their supervisors. Along with the United States, the
survey included eight European countries and Morocco. The surveys key findings and U.S. responses indicated the
following:
Of U.S. employees surveyed, 86 percent reported a good opinion of their immediate supervisor, as well as their
companys other managers. Overall, about two-thirds of global employees generally had a good opinion of their
managers.
62 percent of U.S. employees described their relationship with their immediate supervisor as friendly, while 33
percent described it as purely professional. The United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland showed similar results. In
contrast, other European countries most notably France reported more distant relationships with their managers.
The study distinguished these two different managerial cultures among the surveyed countries.
U.S. employees gave the highest ratings of any country when asked if their immediate supervisor was competent (90
percent), friendly (90 percent, tied with Switzerland), talented (87 percent), honest (87 percent) and open to feedback
(83 percent). This demonstrates that professional skills and personal friendliness go hand-in-hand in U.S. manageremployee relationships.
U.S. employees were most positive overall about their immediate supervisor giving them the information and support
they need to do their jobs. Specifically, they offered higher ratings than any other country when asked if their
immediate supervisor informs them of company changes or strategies (81 percent), gives them honest feedback about
their work (85 percent), helps them advance at work (76 percent) and supports them in asking for a salary increase
(62 percent).
The positive U.S. manager-employee relationship may contribute to the finding that only 32 percent of American
employees the lowest of all countries surveyed say they either regularly or from time to time dont follow
directions from their immediate supervisor.
U.S. employees prioritize their top expectations from supervisors as recognition (40 percent), better organization of
the teams work (36 percent) and better support in difficult situations (36 percent). This aligns with the overall finding
that most employees place the highest priority on being recognized by their managers.
As U.S. companies are becoming more global, its important for leaders to understand how employees around the world
view their managers and what they expect from them, said Juan Luis Goujon, SSP-BPI Group CEO. According to the
survey, the U.S. has a competitive advantage when it comes to employees feeling positive about their supervisors. This is
particularly important because companies today require employees to be more engaged in order to achieve business
results. Most U.S. supervisors appear to be providing a good work environment and direction, but employees still want
greater recognition and support.
Researchers conducting the survey also noted that U.S employees positive opinions of their supervisors may be attributed
to greater job mobility in the U.S. market. Employees may be more likely to leave a job or seek another opportunity if
they dont get along with their managers versus remaining in a position that doesnt offer their desired work environment.
Thus, employees who feel less trapped in a position tend to have a more positive outlook. Researchers other
observations include:
France is the country with the highest direct report-supervisor dissatisfaction and most purely professional
relationships.
At the other end of the spectrum, the U.S. manager appears to develop a relationship based on friendliness,

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transparency and thoroughness, where trust is given and leadership is key.

Italy is closer to France with an even greater level of distrust, while Germany, the U.K. and Switzerland are midway
between France and the United States.
About the survey
Management and HR consultant BPI and BVA Research, a leading European market research company, conducted an
international survey of employees to find how they assess their supervisors and to build clearer insights about the
management models in each country. The survey was conducted Oct. 18-25, 2007, in 10 countries with a sample of 500
salaried employees per country, except for the United States where the sample was 1,000. This sample includes all
representative criteria for employees working with companies employing at least 10 people in the private and public
sectors in terms of gender, age and profession. The surveys were conducted online (except in Morocco, where the survey
conducted via phone). The 10 countries surveyed were France, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Poland, Romania, Spain,
Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States.
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