A Problem Costing Companies Billions – and Your Best People

Lack of support, undue pressure, uninclusiveness and lack of empathy from management are among the main reasons for losing key talent.

According to a recent study (WebMD Health Services, American Psychological Association, TINYpulse 2025), as many as 79% of employees are considering resigning due to being undervalued by their supervisor, and more than half of the departures could have been prevented with better managerial support.

For HR departments, this sends a clear message: the leader-employee relationship and a culture of empathy are the foundation of talent retention and competitive advantage today.

Loss of Skills Through Lack of Empathy – The Silent Killer of Team Effectiveness

Pressure without support, lack of active listening, and overlooking employees’ strengths lead to:

  • decreased engagement,
  • rising stress levels,
  • a sense of insecurity and lack of psychological safety,
  • mass employee turnover.

 

In companies where managers fail to demonstrate empathy, difficult development conversations often turn into exchanges of complaints. The statistics are clear: 57% of employees leave because of poor relationships with their supervisors.

Moreover, lack of inclusivity leads not only to talent drain but also significant financial losses.

Leader’s Empathy as a Competitive Advantage – MHHL Case Study

A good leader is not just a task supervisor. They are a coach, mediator, and team caretaker.

That’s why at Mental Health HelpLine (MHHL), we recommend that every new manager participate in 3–5 individual sessions with a coach or psychotherapist. Through our Managerial Support Package, we help leaders:

  • adapt to their new role and gain confidence,
  • develop awareness of employees’ needs,
  • build healthy relationships and open dialogue,
  • make courageous and responsible decisions.

Case from practice:

For a client in the tech industry, mandatory sessions for new managers were introduced.
The result? A better workplace atmosphere, increased trust, and reduced turnover — all within just a few months..

How to Develop Leaders Who Retain Talent

The most common barriers to leadership development are resistance to change and lack of soft skills.

We recommend:

  • training in empathy, communication, stress management, and inclusivity,
  • continuous mentor/coach support — especially during new roles or team changes,
  • participation in MHHL development programs, such as the Managerial Support Package, where leaders practice feedback, dialogue, and conflict resolution.

HR as the Guardian of Organizational Culture

HR departments play a critical role by:

  • educating and monitoring leadership behavior,
  • providing self-development tools (e.g., MHHL coaching and psychotherapy sessions),
  • improving onboarding and feedback culture,
  • implementing employee satisfaction and psychological safety metrics.

Mental Health HelpLine – Individual Support with Real Business Impact

The MHHL Managerial Package includes 5 individual sessions tailored to the needs of executives – from diagnosis to coaching and psychological support.

The results we see in clients:

  • faster adaptation to leadership roles,
  • reduced tension and stress levels,
  • improved leader awareness of employee needs,
  • increased team loyalty and engagement.

What Else Can Be Improved?

Too many organizations see leadership development as a cost instead of an investment.

Key steps include:

  • strengthening onboarding processes,
  • expanding mentoring programs,
  • conducting regular organizational climate audits.

Diversity Hub x Mental Health HelpLine

Want to retain talent?

Bet on leaders who combine effectiveness with empathy. Mental Health HelpLine will help you create executives who are psychologically resilient, competent and inclusive.

 

W tym artykule:

Jesteśmy z Tobą – jako praktycy DE&I – na każdym etapie Twojego biznesu. Potrzebujesz wsparcia?

Szkolimy, eksplorujemy, planujemy, konsultujemy, wdrażamy i celebrujemy. Poznaj nasze usługi i zacznij z nami współpracę!

Badania i audyty DE&I

Przeprowadzamy badania i audyty, które pozwolą Ci zdiagnozować środowisko pracy w zintegrowanych wymiarach DE&I.

Opracowanie strategii
i action planów DE&I

Pomożemy Ci w systemowym ukierunkowaniu działań DE&I, spójnymi z celami biznesowymi.

Szkolenia, warsztaty, webinary

Rozwiniemy kompetencje DE&I Twoich zespołów. Zbudujemy DE&I IQ całej organizacji, od specjalisty po CEO.