Workers feel that ineffective managers and a lack of training and development are holding them back in their careers, with many thinking promotions are based on popularity, rather than skill, finds a report.

While 73% of UK workers (75% globally) think people with more vocal and attentive managers are more likely to be promoted, 50% (53% globally) say their manager is under-equipped to help them progress in their career, according to CYPHER Learning’s report, From Skills to Success: L&D Insights for the Modern Workforce, which surveyed 4,500 workers, including 2,000 UK respondents, 2,000 US and 500 from Mexico. Leadership was ranked as the number one area that workers think their manager needs training in, with listening in second place, and collaboration and team management in third (consistent globally).

Many believe employees who are more visible are more likely to get ahead: 66% of UK workers (65% globally) say progression is based more on popularity than competency and 74% of UK workers (72% globally) have seen people who don’t deserve it get promoted – with introverts feeling frozen out of advancement opportunities.

A lack of learning and development (L&D) is making younger workers want to quit. Some 77% of UK workers (70% globally) feel their organisation’s L&D could be better; 31% of whom said this was negatively impacting their job satisfaction (36% globally) and 37% that it was making them consider leaving (36% globally) – with 18-34 year-olds the most likely to want to leave (44%).

Employees are feeling adrift in the workplace: 68% of UK workers (69% globally) would welcome guidance, training and development to help them navigate the ‘unspoken rules’ of the workplace, finds the report. 

Graham Glass, founder, and CEO of CYPHER Learning, said “Given retention was the number one priority for HR professionals going into 2024, it is vital organisations take a closer look at their L&D offerings to ensure they can compete for talent. The research shows employers that offer continuous skills development and make employee development a priority are set to have an edge over competition.”

The research also shows that if companies can get training and development right, it can have a hugely positive effect – 23% of UK employees (30% globally) said that development they received was “exceptionally rewarding”, leaving them feeling “truly enlightened and invigorated.” Moreover, 22% (30% globally) reported feeling ‘highly valued and empowered’ by their employer and that they feel ‘deeply appreciated and recognized’ thanks to the continuous investment in their development.

However, 15% of UK workers (16% globally) have received no training at all in the past 12 months. Forty per cent of UK workers (43% globally) say their company’s insufficient workplace training is holding them back from advancing their career, 40% of UK workers (42% globally) that their workplace doesn’t offer the training they need to do their role effectively, and 71% of UK workers (68% globally) that development is often a one-size-fits-all that doesn’t feel very personalised to them and their needs.