Frontline leaders are reaching their breaking point, according to the latest research from Gallagher.
A frontline leader is defined as leaders of a team of employees and these frontline leaders are being increasingly placed in a bind as responsibility and risk trickle down from their managers without the necessary upskilling needed to succeed.
In Gallagher's latest Australian Workforce Trends Report, frontline leaders were much more likely to be struggling in their workplace, compared with other members of their organisation.
Gallagher analysis into the personas that make up every workplace showed that 10% of frontline leaders are considered Strugglers — those employees that require immediate attention due to their employee wellbeing. In comparison, just 2% of senior leaders were placed in the same category.
Similarly, over a third (34%) of frontline leaders are considered Thrivers — those employees that are at the top of their game both at home and in work — compared with 54% of senior leaders.
Director, People Experience and Innovation, Dr James Allen, said that organisations can no longer afford to ignore the employee wellbeing concerns of their frontline leaders.
"Frontline leaders are the operational backbone of high-performing organisations," said Dr Allen. "They're not only the first line of leadership but also remain closely connected to clients and day-to-day delivery. When their wellbeing is compromised, it can cascade through teams and create significant challenges, especially if these pressures go unaddressed.
