A new study from Roffey Park Management Institute finds that UK managers are a resilient lot. Though they are stressed by increasing workloads, lack of control, lack of support and lack of time, they accept that these are the realities of business life today - and they are getting on with the job.

Roffey Park researchers questioned 225 managers and found that over 90% had been through organisational change in the past two years and over 70% had been through structural change. Yet, most remain certain they can maintain their own effectiveness.

There is also widespread acceptance of the fact that life has become a balancing act. Most managers claim to have made sacrifices for their careers, usually in the form of less time spent with their children. A worrying 40% claim they have also sacrificed their health to some extent.

Just how willing managers are to continue accepting pressures at work is called into question by the fact that over half the respondents said they were actively considering changing jobs. What they are getting back from the employer seems to be the issue. "The majority perceive a mismatch between what they are earning now and what they believe they could earn. Dissatisfaction with reward appears to be having a negative impact on motivation and loyalty," the authors note.

Over 90% of respondents said they would welcome more flexible reward packages. Over 60% said they would be happy with more time, rather than more money.

Elliott Chase