In This Post:
Presenters:
Alexandra Powell
Director of Insights
Managers have always been the backbone of organizational success, and today, they’re under more pressure than ever. They are expected to lead hybrid teams, drive performance, support employee well-being, and deliver results. And all this while navigating constant change. It’s becoming increasingly clear that managers are important and critical to organizational success.
We had Alexandra Powell, Director of Insights at Reward Gateway | Edenred, on our last week’s webinar to share insights they have and highlight a powerful reality that a good leader is worth more than gold. As always, Alex had a unique approach with the attendees. Presenting the importance of managers, she encouraged attendees to share their thoughts on how they could help clients’ managers, are there things clients are doing to support them, and what ideas they have to ensure they’re even more effective. Alex took a deep dive into the current state of managers in the U.S. and shared practical strategies organizations can implement right away to support their leaders better.
About Reward Gateway | Edenred
Reward Gateway | Edenred proudly supports over 10 million employees in fostering workplace connection, appreciation, and support. Their unified employee engagement hub provides the best of recognition, rewards, wellbeing, surveys, benefits, and discounts that support talent acquisition, retention, and values-driven growth.
A recently released report shows that workplaces need to evolve in 2026 to better support both employees and managers in a changing and uncertain work environment. It highlights rising employee expectations (beyond just salary), increasing stress and burnout, and a growing gap between what managers think employees need and what employees actually experience. At the same time, managers themselves are under pressure and more likely to leave their roles.
The Business Case for Great Managers
Let’s start with the numbers, because they are hard to ignore. As Alex explained, her role means she gets to work on a combination of Reward Gateway | Edenred’s research, looking at workforce trends, and how people are doing. She also works with their clients who are most successful at driving engagement, productivity, and business results to see how they use Reward Gateway | Edenred’s technology and what they do within and outside of it to be most successful. And then Alex gets to share it across the wider community and help more people reach those goals.
There’s a lot going on globally and politically. What Reward Gateway | Edenred found at the end of last year, when communicating with HR teams, was that 66% of HR leaders expect more change in 2026. Regardless of that, they were optimistic, and 73% feel good about their organization’s future in 2026.
Managers have an important role in shaping employee experience and even mental health. This level of influence acknowledges that investing in managers is becoming a strategic necessity. The state was supported with facts that Gallup found in 2026 and that’s when companies not only have engaged employees, but talented managers, they achieve 147% higher earnings per share.
The Hidden Crisis: Manager Burnout and Turnover
Managers are an important key. According to a Reward Gateway | Edenred report released earlier this year, 79% of employees say their relationship with their manager affects their productivity.
As Alex shared, the research also shows who’s looking to leave. One in three managers are likely to leave in the next year, this is an even greater percentage than their employees. This has a huge impact on organizations. The results show that, despite their importance, managers themselves are under significant strain. 39% of managers report frequent stress, 29% experience burnout regularly, and 18% feel lonely in their role.
This creates a dangerous cycle. Stressed and unsupported managers struggle to lead effectively, which impacts employee engagement and productivity, ultimately increasing turnover across the organization.
If companies fail to address this issue, they risk losing not only talent but also the stability and culture that strong leadership provides.
What Employees Really Want
For years, compensation has been seen as the primary driver of employee satisfaction. But that narrative is shifting.
In 2026, employees are increasingly prioritizing factors that reflect how they are treated at work:
- A company that cares about their wellbeing
- A manager who genuinely supports them
- A sense of belonging
- Flexibility in where and how they work
- Recognition for their contributions
In fact, many of these factors are considered more important than a 10% pay raise.
This shift places managers at the center of the employee experience. They are the ones who translate company values into daily interactions. They are the ones who create a culture of trust, recognition, and support.
The Training Gap: A Missed Opportunity
Despite the critical role managers play, many are not adequately prepared. Globally, only 44% of managers have received formal management training. And providing coaching and training can lead to a 20–28% increase in performance. Too often, high-performing individual contributors are promoted into management roles without the tools, training, or support they need to succeed. The result is frustration, inefficiency, and missed opportunities for both the manager and their team.
Organizations that invest in structured manager development programs, focused on communication, empathy, decision-making, and time management, are far more likely to see positive outcomes.
Recognition: The Most Underrated Leadership Tool
One of the most powerful and often overlooked ways to support both managers and employees is through recognition. When done right, recognition can strengthen relationships between managers and employees, increase engagement and motivation, and create a culture of appreciation.
Technology plays a key role here by providing measurable insights into performance. Modern recognition platforms make it easier to deliver timely, visible, and meaningful recognition, while also providing data that organizations can use to track engagement and performance trends.
Rethinking Wellbeing: From Initiative to Culture
Both employees and managers now rank wellbeing as one of the most important factors in their work experience. And managers, in particular, feel a strong sense of responsibility for their team’s wellbeing.
To truly make an impact, organizations must go beyond surface-level efforts. That means making benefits easy to access and understand, encouraging open conversations about mental health, and recognizing and rewarding healthy behaviors.
For example, wellbeing challenges and team-based initiatives can foster engagement while reinforcing a culture of care. Creating opportunities for connection and community, employees can quickly tell the difference between performative wellbeing efforts and genuine commitment.
Get in touch with Reward Gateway | Edenred today!
Based on current insights, four strategies stand out when organizations want to better support their managers, and by extension, their entire workforce:
- Be Transparent. Managers need clarity to lead effectively. Sharing the “real story” about company goals, challenges, and direction builds trust and enables better decision-making.
- Equip Managers with the Right Tools. Time, training, and technology are essential. Without them, even the most capable managers will struggle.
- Prioritize Wellbeing. Leaders at all levels should model and support healthy behaviors.
- Leverage Recognition Technology. Recognition should be frequent, meaningful, and measurable. It’s about acknowledging impact, reinforcing positive behaviors, and making people feel valued. With technology, it can scale these efforts and ensure consistency across the organization.
When managers are supported, trained, and empowered, the impact is profound.
Get in touch with Reward Gateway | Edenred to learn how they can support your clients with these strategies and additional employee engagement needs.
For more information, contact:
Alexandra Powell – alexandra.powell@rewardgateway.com
In case you missed it: Log in to access the full Meet A Vendor Presentation!
Not a subscriber? Request access.
Did you find this article interesting?
Don’t keep this knowledge to yourself – share it on your social media channels and spark engaging conversations!