If you’re a business owner, knowing the signs that your employees could be unhappy is key to running a workplace that has a great reputation. If you show your employees that you care about them and actually want them to be happy at work and satisfied in their roles, it’ll go a long way. Not only will your team have fewer sick days, they are more likely to perform to a higher standard and stay loyal to your business. With that in mind, here are some of the hints that your team could be giving you – miss them at your peril!
They Do The Bare Minimum
If your employees do the bare minimum, then it could be the case that they no longer care about their work. Doing the bare minimum rather than going above and beyond for you is a sign they have become complacent – but don’t come down on them like a ton of bricks right away. First, consider why they may feel this way and work on ways to change it. It is often something to do with the workplace and the management style, or the employee may have other things going on at home. Trying to be understanding and helpful is key in these situations.
They’ve Started Clockwatching
If employees are virtually counting down the seconds until they can go home, it’s another huge sign that they’re unhappy. Maybe you can’t tell if they’re actually looking at the clock, but you will see them leave early, arrive late, and potentially have more days off work.
There’s Limited Personal Engagement
If your workers begin closing themselves off and keeping things to themselves when they used to be chatty, it’s another big sign they aren’t having a good time. You want your team to be tight knit and to stay connected if you’re going to grow your business and make it successful. They may not be best friends, but some light humor and chatting is a good sign that things are going smoothly. If the office is quiet and you rarely see people talking to one another, then this could be a sign of dissatisfaction.
There’s Backstabbing and Showing Hostility
Maybe, worse still than not speaking to one another, your employees are talking behind one another’s backs. If there are rumours going around and other toxic behaviours are noted, then this is a sign employees are unhappy. Soon enough, internal complaints will be on the rise.
You’ve Noticed Visual Signals and Body Language
Keeping an eye out for visual signals and subtle body language is a must. Are your employees always frowning? Do they speak in a depressing tone of voice? Do they sigh frequently? Do they seem disinterested? Are they on their phones more than they should be? Look out for these signs. If they happen more often than not, they’re unhappy.
People Are Constantly Stressed
Stress is a huge contributor to unhappiness in the workplace. Many people accept high stress levels as the norm, but high stress can also lead to less productivity and other issues. You employees need to be able to disengage when they are at home or on vacation – they shouldn’t feel the need to reply when they are supposed to be relaxing, or even when they are ill. If they don’t feel like they can ever really ‘clock off’ then they will eventually exhibit signs of exhaustion and diminished interest. They will also be more likely to show up late or call out sick and are ultimately more susceptible to burnout. Burn out is a very real mental health issue and should not be scoffed at – it can take months to repair itself once somebody is suffering from it, and deep rest is the only thing that helps.
They’ve Made Complaints
One of your main goals should be to make things easier for your team in various ways. You may not be able to do these things all at once, but ticking off a list of things and taking their complaints and suggestions on board is key. There are likely many ways you can make life easier for both them and you with only a bit of research. For example, using fleet fueling cards can make life run so much smoother for those who need to drive for a living. The time really adds up, and will help to make your operation more efficient on top of pleasing your team.
Bear in mind that they don’t necessarily need to make ‘official’ complaints for them to have a problem. If you notice them muttering under their breath, talking to one another about the same things they find hard all the time, or gently offering suggestions, this could be a bigger sign that they are unhappy and reluctant to properly come forward about it. This is why you really need to work on listening and paying attention!
So – What’s The Solution?
If you’ve noticed the signs of unhappiness in the workplace, you only have a short amount of time to come up with solutions before people start to leave and your productivity is at an all time low. This will cost you a lot of time and money, and potentially some truly great employees. You can combat unhappiness in the workplace by asking your team for their feedback. Take what they say seriously, and allow anonymous suggestions if needed – they may not want to come forward.
Stay professional at all times, too. It’s still your job to ensure a comfortable atmosphere, and you shouldn’t be shouting at them like they are school children. Consider providing better bonuses and support. If you’re paying them the bare minimum, then expect them to do the bare minimum. Having mental health initiatives in place not only shows them you care, but can help them when they are feeling low and don’t know what to do. More and more companies are putting things like this in place to take care of their employees.
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