Unbossing

Middle managers accounted for 30 percent of all layoffs in 2023, according to research from Live Data Technologies, a 10 percent increase from 2018. For instance, Citigroup simplified its structure by reducing management layers from 13 to eight, removing 1,500 managerial roles that comprised 13 percent of leadership.

Such shifts have led to flatter organizations, with limited positions between ground-level employees and the C-suite, in a phenomenon known as unbossing. The resultant, larger cohort of direct reports doesn't necessarily operate without supervision. But, says an article from WorkLife by Hailey Mensik, eliminating middle management gives employees more access to senior leadership, increases freedom and autonomy, and provides the opportunity for remaining managers to work on their own professional development. The article—titled "WTF Is an Unbossed Culture?"—points out that unbossing also provides familiarity for Gen Z workers, many of whom began their careers working remotely and without a manager physi-cally present.

The new management style does have detractions, says Mensik, such as enabling quiet quitting due to infrequent check-ins and reducing employee morale due to a lack of human connection.