The Must-Read Articles for Talent Professionals This Week

Written by Gorillas

7th February 2025

The Must-Read Articles for Talent Professionals This Week

According to new research from meQuilibrium, a workforce well-being and performance platform, managers are struggling.

In a recent article for Fast Company, meQuilibrium CEO Jan Bruce writes that 59% of managers experience higher emotional demands than other members of their team, while also being 12% less likely to receive support when they need it. They’re also nearly 40% more likely to report excessive workloads compared to non-managers. These conditions can lead to increased burnout, disengagement, and higher quit rates.

“After years of pressure,” Jan writes, “from the pandemic, the challenges of managing remote, hybrid, and RTO workplaces, and inconsistent organizational support, managers are on the brink of a crash.”

What’s more, as an increasing number of burnt-out managers leave the workforce, no one is stepping up to take their place. Younger Gen Z workers are watching their stressed-out bosses and realizing management roles may not be worth it. “A recent Robert Walters survey,” Jan writes, “revealed that 72% of Gen Z respondents would choose an individual route to progression over managing others. Sixty-nine percent say middle management is too high-stress and low-reward.”

The good news, however, is that Jan sees a way forward to better support existing managers and prepare younger workers for transitioning into managerial roles. The path she envisions includes encouraging leaders to model behavior that prioritizes well-being, giving access to digital cognitive behavioral tools that can help disrupt unproductive thought patterns, and supporting Gen Z workers with training that can put them in a better position to be successful managers.

To learn more, be sure to check out the Fast Company article at the top of our list below of must-read articles for talent professionals. And further down our list, you can also find out why a candidate’s potential can sometimes outweigh traditional experience; why fewer U.S. workers are quitting their jobs; and how some candidates are using AI tools to deceive recruiters.