Can a Boss Affect Happiness?

Adecco Survey Looks at Employee-Manager Relationships as National Boss Day Approaches on October 16(th)

MELVILLE, N.Y. -- Love them or hate them, 56% of Americans say their relationship with their boss has a direct impact on work-life happiness. This finding is from a recent survey conducted by Adecco, the world leader in workforce solutions. As National Boss Day approaches on October 16th, workers reflect on their employee-supervisor relationship and what they see not only varies from office to office, but is also based on an individual's gender and generation.

Key Findings:

* Generation Y Leaves Work at the Office: More than half of Generation Y workers (53%) claim that their relationship with their boss has no impact on their work-life happiness. As Americans get older, however, manager impact weighs much heavier with the majority (62%) of baby boomers reporting that bosses have a strong influence on their day to day lives.

* No Gender Gap: 54% of workers are ambivalent on which gender they would want to report to, saying it doesn't have an impact on their performance. Of those that did have a preference, 26% stated that they work better with males and 13% favored females.

* Little Impact on Productivity?: Americans are split on whether or not managers help increase worker output. When asked if their relationship with their boss impacts productivity, 49% said yes and 48% responded no. It does appear that more men are impacted than women, with 52% of males responding yes compared to 44% of females.

"The relationship between a worker and his/her manager has very real implications on both employee satisfaction and performance," said Ray Roe, president of Adecco North America. "It is important for both managers and employees to be cognizant of the different dynamics at play and actively work together towards building a stronger relationship. Doing so will not only increase work-life happiness, but also improve on-the-job efficiency and productivity."

In celebration of National Boss Day, Adecco provides insight on ways employees and managers can better work together.

* Get better acquainted - Often, strained relationships result from preconceived notions about individuals and their motives. Get to know each other by getting some coffee, talking by the water cooler, or participating in a team building event. This will allow for better understanding and help you build more effective working relationships.

* Be open minded - Generation Y was born during the age of the internet and expects quick results in all aspects of living, whereas baby boomers tend to be more loyal and vested in long-term success. Diversity of backgrounds and ideas bring value to any team. Understand these fundamental differences and be open to learn from and adjust to each other. Don't shut out new approaches or time-tested methods as both can add value to the workplace.

* Engage in two-way feedback - Managers are responsible for providing employees with regular feedback on their job performance to set objectives and identify areas of both strength and improvement. Although this feedback is often a one-way exchange, supervisors should take the time to ask staff how they're doing as a manager. This sort of open dialogue will enable bosses to better understand how they're being perceived in the workplace while allowing employees to feel their voice is valued and respected.

The Adecco North America 2006 National Boss Day Survey is a part of its ongoing "Workplace Insights" series, focused on exploring what's on the minds of today's workforce.

Survey Methodology:

The current results are based upon telephone interviews among 573 employed adults selected from a representative sample of 1,006 adults, 18 years of age or older. Opinion Research Corporation's Caravan conducted interviews between September 14-17, 2006. The margin of error is approximately plus or minus four percent. A copy of the survey questionnaire can be provided upon request.

ADECCO WORLDWIDE:

Adecco S.A. is a Fortune 500 company and the global leader in HR services. The Adecco Group network connects over 700,000 associates with business clients each day through its network of over 33,000 employees and 6,600 offices in over 70 countries and territories around the world. Registered in Switzerland, and managed by a multinational team with expertise in markets spanning the globe, the Adecco Group delivers an unparalleled range of flexible staffing and career resources to corporate clients and qualified associates.

ADECCO NORTH AMERICA:

Adecco is the workforce solutions leader in the United States and Canada, with a comprehensive service offering that includes temporary & contract staffing, permanent recruitment, outplacement and career services, training and consulting.

In addition to its established Office & Industrial business, Adecco operates six professional business lines, including Engineering & Technical, Information Technology, Finance & Legal, Human Capital Solutions, Medical & Science, and Sales, Marketing & Events

Adecco S.A. is registered in Switzerland (ISIN: CH001213860) and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange with trading on virt-x (SWX/VIRT-X: ADEN), the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ADO) and Euronext Paris - Premier Marche (EURONEXT: ADE).

Additional information is available at the company's website at www.adeccousa.com.