Line Manager Wellbeing: Are They Being Squeezed too Much?

As we have seen line managers play a key role in organisations, both in the implementation of HR policies and putting them into practice, and in the maintenance of the employment relationship to help improve the health and wellbeing of organisational employees. However, as seen in Chapter  3 , we do have to recognise that line managers are the squeezed middle, and it can be very easy to wag the finger at line managers and blame them for everything. It is important that time is taken to recognise that line managers themselves may need support both in their role, and in their wellbeing, as it is an incredibly difficult ‘balancing’ job. Line managers can make life very difficult for employees if they manage tensions badly, or don’t get the support or access to the skills they need, maybe now is the time to look at the wellbeing of line managers, so that they can be hugely positive, so that beneficial and positive outcomes for employees can be encouraged. This chapter aims to highlight why the focus on ‘line management wellbeing’ is important, what the consequences of poor manager wellbeing could be, and how they can be best supported in the workplace.