Why the “real-life Michael Scott” is the boss we all want

This week in workplace whiplash 🌀

If a real life Michael Scott is the boss we all secretly want, this week’s headlines show why. From burnout to benefit fatigue, here’s what’s pushing workers to the edge:

• 😓 HR mental health hits crisis levels
  A UK report shows 63% of HR professionals say burnout is “very likely”, and 44% report symptoms of depression, nearly triple the general population.
   👉 Unleash

• 💤 Rest is the new work currency
  A quarter of employees get less than 7 hours’ sleep, thanks to always-on tech and after-hours Zoom fatigue. Experts say it’s fuelling a burnout loop.
   👉 Allwork

• 💸 Burnout can break the bank
  A new Business Insider piece profiles a former exec who quit just before securing their pension, after months of 16-hour days and total burnout.
   👉 Business Insider

• 🧑‍💼 Gen Z wants real financial support
  New research finds many Gen Z workers are financially fragile, calling for savings help, practical benefits, and less fluff around wellbeing.
   👉 Boostworks

These stories echo a familiar theme: people are exhausted, under-supported, and done with polished leadership that lacks presence. Which is why an awkward manager suddenly feels like the gold standard…

TikTok’s favourite manager, Jeff, has been dubbed the “real-life Michael Scott”, and thousands of people now want to work for him.

The viral video posted by employee Jade Hicks (@ruefromshein), shows Jeff handing out sheet masks, hosting “mini mic” interviews, and delivering chaotic pep talks. It’s part sitcom, part sincere, and to anyone who’s worked in HR or leadership like me, it’s weirdly… moving?

Jeff isn’t a strategist. He’s not trying to build his brand. He’s just a team manager who brings snacks, forgets what the new platform’s called mid-sentence, and actually listens when he asks how you are. He’s not talking about culture in town halls, he’s creating it in the kitchen. And what started as an offhand TikTok has turned into a PR masterclass (and a job queue).

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🧠 Why awkward leadership works

There’s actual behavioural science behind why Jeff hits differently.

• Likeability Through Imperfection: The Pratfall Effect shows that competent individuals are often seen as more likeable when they make small mistakes. A little awkwardness signals authenticity, not incompetence.

• Human Leaders Keep Staff: According to McKinsey, employees are more likely to stay when leaders show emotional openness, vulnerability, and humility, especially in high-stress environments.

• Psychological Safety Starts at the Top: Harvard Business Review finds that when leaders admit they don’t have all the answers, it creates space for others to speak up. That sense of safety boosts performance, innovation and wellbeing.

• Gen Z Isn’t Buying the Script: A recent analysis shows that Gen Z prefers authenticity over authority. They want managers who are emotionally intelligent and imperfect, not overly polished professionals repeating corporate mantras.

📉 Why now?

Jeff’s rise isn’t a fluke though, it’s a reaction.

After years of faceless layoffs, AI-generated emails, and leadership-by-slide-deck, people are craving something real. A warm hello. A messy update. A human boss who shows up, not just when things are good, but when they’re hard.

In this climate, a leader who makes space for humour, awkwardness, and care is more than refreshing, they’re actually essential.

✅ What HR can do (without a TikTok account)

You don’t need viral fame to encourage better leadership. Instead, try:

• 🧠 Coach for presence, not performance: Help leaders reflect on how they’re perceived and experienced, not just what they say in meetings.

• 💬 Encourage real communication: If an internal update sounds like it came from PR, rewrite it. People respond to voice, not perfection.

• 📉 Normalise vulnerability: Make it safe for managers to say, “I don’t know,” or “That one’s on me.”

• 👋 Celebrate micro-moments: Culture isn’t built at away days. It’s in the hallway chats, the ‘how’s your week going’, and the jokes during staff meetings.

💬 Final thoughts

In an age where leadership often feels corporate, curated or completely AI-generated, Jeff reminds us of something simple: people trust what feels human.

So no, you don’t need to hand out sheet masks or go viral. But if you show up, show some heart, and occasionally forget what day it is? You might just be someone’s favourite boss.