Research published by workplace incentives and rewards provider, One4all Rewards, in the UK Management Review Whitepaper, polled 1,024 UK employees on the qualities they would value the most in bosses and how their own bosses match up to the perfect picture.

The research revealed that being honest was the highest valued quality for UK workers (41%) – something many would expect from their bosses. The second most important quality for more than 1 in 3 (35%) British workers is being approachable.

An ideal boss would also be fair for almost 1 in 4 (24%) workers and understandably, a similar number (23%) preferred their manager or boss to be organised.

Another interpersonal quality which was highly coveted in UK bosses was sincerity – more than 1 in 5 (21%) felt strongly about this.

The data also revealed how strong an impact a positive boss-employee relationship can have. 1 in 4 workers said that having a good working relationship with their boss would mean they would be more likely to stay at a company for the long term (e.g. 5 years or more).

However, the research found that few UK managers matched up to expectations as just 23% felt their boss was honest – suggesting a major gap in trust in many British companies.

As for those workers who felt their management should be approachable, the same number (23%) currently describe their bosses this way.

Being fair made one of the top three qualities for an ideal boss; worryingly, this was a trait that appears to be lacking in the UK workforce, as just 15% describe their manager as fair.

Organisation skills can sometimes seem like a basic requirement for any management role, yet the data could suggest that many are not seeing examples of this in their bosses’ behaviour, with just 18% believing their boss is organised.

In comparison to sincerity being a key attribute for UK workers, just 10% feel their boss is sincere.

Female workers are the most likely to value a boss who is approachable (44%), while male workers covet honesty above anything else (45%).

Alan Smith, UK Managing Director at One4all Rewards, said: “Bosses should take note – as our research has shown, the relationship an employee has with their boss can be really key. Maintaining these relationships and being a good manager is about more than just the finished product, or numbers on a spreadsheet.

“A good leader inspires workers to want to work hard and has the kind of relationship that means if an employee is having a problem or is unhappy, they will feel comfortable approaching them to discuss it. Similarly, people also need to be able to be able to place a degree of trust in their boss. Without trust and sincerity, feedback – both good and bad – is unlikely to be believed or taken seriously.

Smith continues: “What I find particularly interesting about these findings is how many of the qualities we look for in an employer mirror those a lot of people would also seek out in new friendships outside of the workplace. Bosses don’t need to be friends with their employees, but having the basics of a respectful and honest relationship is important. In addition to these findings, our previous research found that 83% of British workers admitted being regularly thanked by an employer increases the sense of loyalty they feel to their company.

“There is so much advice out there about the intricacies of leadership that it can be quite easy to sometimes forget that, ultimately, people want to be managed by trustworthy, approachable and organised human beings.”

For more information and to download the One4all Rewards Review of UK Management whitepaper, click here.

One4all Rewards are industry experts in benefits and rewards. Working with over 6,000 businesses of all sizes nationwide, One4all Rewards helps to transform customer and employee relationships through successful rewards and incentive schemes.

For more information about One4all Rewards, please visit: www.one4allrewards.co.uk