A “significant number” of workers leave their employers due to ineffective leadership and a lack of opportunities or challenges within the organization, according to an online survey by Right Management.

Of the 1,308 respondents, 30 percent said they left their job to seek new challenges or opportunities that were lacking with their previous employers. In addition, 25 percent of the respondents reported leaving employers because of ineffective leadership, 22 percent cited poor relationships with their managers, and 21 percent said their contributions were not valued. Poor management results in lower morale, decreased productivity, and employees who are disengaged from their jobs,” says Right Management spokesman Douglas Matthews. Only 43 percent of U.S. employees are fully engaged in their jobs, meaning that a majority – 57 percent – are not, according to Right Management's research.

“There is a direct correlation between the level of employee engagement and important business benchmarks such as higher customer retention, lower employee turnover, and increased sales and operating results,” says Matthews. “Organizations with high levels of engaged employees are also better able to retain customers, and generate higher sales and operating results.”