Despite difficult economic circumstances, line managers were perceived more positively in 2010 than last year, according to HR consultancy ETS.

Eight out of 10 of the 175,000 workers from across the UK workforce surveyed said they were well managed, with 73% saying they were motivated effectively, compared to 66% in 2009.

Nine out of 10 said they felt listened to by their manager compared seven out of 10 in 2009.

There was also an improvement in how training was perceived, with nearly eight out of 10 saying they were happy compared with seven last year.

However, company objectives remain a source of frustration, with 18% saying they did not know what their company wanted to achieve next year.

Sam Arnold, business psychologist at ETS, comments: "Line managers play a crucial role in managing employees’ performance. It’s encouraging to see that employee-manager relationships are even stronger after the recession."