Most Workers Believe Their Boss is Fair

Most American workers (55%) said their manager or supervisor is excellent or very good for which to work, according to a recent Pew Research Center study. The majority also described their bosses as capable (69%), confident (66%), and fair (58%). On the other hand, less than one-in-five workers said negative traits, such as being dismissive, unpredictable, aggressive, or arrogant describe their boss.

Importantly, these views don’t vary depending on the gender, race, and ethnicity of the supervisor, and most Americans also do not have a preference regarding their employer’s gender, Pew reported.

Most workers said their direct supervisor is excellent or very good when it came to:

• Giving employees flexibility to balance work and their personal life (63%)
• Giving employees credit when it’s due (56%)
• Staying calm under pressure (56%)
• Setting high standards (53%)
• Being open to new ideas (52%)
• Being clear about expectations (50%)

Notably, workers with upper incomes are more likely than those with middle and lower incomes to say their bosses are excellent or very good across several of these leadership dimensions, Pew found.