Progression paradox | Why workers want higher pay & influence, but have no interest in becoming managers

A fundamental shift in career philosophy is creating a structural challenge within the modern workplace, as 44% of the workforce now wants to grow their salary and professional influence without ever becoming a boss.

New research from Reward Gateway | Edenred, as part of the Bridging the ROI Gap report analysing HR trends, reveals a widening progression paradox - while HR departments are desperate to decentralise people management, the modern workforce is increasingly rejecting the traditional ladder to leadership.

For decades, the corporate ladder had one set of rungs: more money meant  more direct reports. Today, that ladder is breaking as employees increasingly choose to swerve traditional career paths. HR departments are currently undergoing a massive strategic shift.

To focus on high-level business transformation, 95% of HR managers are looking to offload administrative and people tasks - such as performance reviews and conflict resolution - directly to line managers.