There are many reasons a worker decides to stay with -- or leave -- any particular job, but a few simple words from a manager can go far to keep the employee motivated and on the job.

Sixty-two percent of employees who said they have an effective manager also said they planned to stay with their job versus 17% of employees who said their manager is ineffective who plan to stay with their job, according to a survey of 10,000 U.S. workers, plus 1,000 workers each in India, China, Brazil, the U.K. and Germany.

Having an effective manager plays a critical role in employees staying with the organization, said Jack Wiley, executive director of the Kenexa Research Institute, which conducted the survey. The Institute is a unit of Wayne, Pennsylvania-based Kenexa, a recruitment and retention consulting firm.

Of course, workers often say they'll leave a job -- and then don't go anywhere.

Just 12% of workers surveyed rated their manager as ineffective, but 25% said their manager is neither effective nor ineffective.

Workers in the U.K. were most likely to say their manager is ineffective, with 19% agreeing with that statement, followed by 15% of U.S. workers who said that, 14% in Germany, 12% in China, 10% in Brazil and just 5% in India.

Where do managers do wrong A lot of it has to do with treating employees with dignity and respect, Mr. Wiley said.

He has found that often employees were simply asking to be recognized, for the manager to say 'hi' to someone in the morning, to say 'thank you' for the work performed, Mr. Wiley said. It doesn't really cost you anything in many respects to be considered a more effective manager.

Also, it is important managers organize the workload fairly, provide feedback on workers' performance, and work to improve poor performers. People want to work for a winning team, he said.