The Boss: But did he get any training?

Almost half of UK workers say they have left a job because of bad management.

Forty-nine per cent say that under less drastic circumstances, they would rather take a pay cut than work for someone who made bad decisions.

The findings come in a survey from the Chartered Institute of Management, which says it is launching a campaign to improve standards among bosses.

It wants the government to make developing effective managers a national priority.

Bad accident

But the survey also found unhappiness among managers themselves. Sixty-eight per cent said they had fallen into the role by chance.

And 40% admitted they had not wanted the responsibility of managing people at all. Very few have formal qualifications.

Ruth Spellman, CMI's chief executive, said: "The figures reveal the depth of the crisis of confidence in UK management."

She added that such bad management was taking an enormous toll on the UK economy - and on people's well-being.

The organisation promotes what it calls the art and science of management and is pressing for action from the government to improve Britain's performance in this area.

It has launched a Manifesto for a Better Managed Britain. National Grid, the RSPCA and the giant professional services firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, are among those who have put their names to it.