01 Aug 2023
Managers would be well advised to keep a check on the mood of their staff. It's all well and good seeing people turn up for work and perform their tasks, but have you been able to work out how they are really feeling?
Here are seven indications we think you need to look out for. If you spot any of them, you'll need to start thinking how to deal with them.
1. An increase in sick absences
Demotivated staff and staff with reduced commitment to your organisation are far more likely to take time off work for minor ailments, or for their 'duvet days'. Small things like minor headaches will often feature on absence sheets and they will think less of calling in at short notice.
2. There are no employees going the 'extra mile'
We know who they usually are - staff who are keen to impress, move upwards, be recognised for the contribution they made that they weren't required to make. But, when there's a distinct lack of enthusiasm, there's usually a distinct disengagement from the job. Dissatisfaction and disillusionment tend to be easy to see when you look at this aspect of the work. If there is nobody willing to put in the extra legwork, that is a sign that the whole workplace is in a low, demoralised funk.
3. Higher numbers of staff are moving on
Workplace satisfaction is rarely just about the physical tasks people are employed to carry out, it's also about the working environment, the humour, social interaction and general morale. If these are no longer viewed positively, people will try and move on.
4. Gossip is on the increase
With low motivation, feelings of bitterness, anger and boredom, you can probably expect troublemaking and gossip. It's a sure fire way for employees to provide some entertainment for themselves where there's nothing else of interest going on.
5. An increase in grievances
And again, unhappy staff leads to unhappy relationships and conflict. In these situations, you could probably expect a higher than average number of grievances from staff, who will have a negative view of the organisation and move straight to a formal grievance, rather than try any way of informal resolution.
6. Decreased productivity
Your teams have been using the same equipment / processes / tools to do their jobs, but productivity and performance have deteriorated. Again, demotivated staff just generally don't have any interest in doing their jobs as well as a highly motivated workforce.
7. Increased Customer Complaints
Unhappy staff can quite unwittingly let their customers know how they feel, without actually saying it. That 'service with a smile' has disappeared; instead a grimace appears and your customers start to feel burdensome rather than valued.
All food for thought?
Well, plenty to think about and look out for. If you spot any or all of the above, give some serious thought to the fixes you'll put in place to bring back that workplace satisfaction your staff (and your organisation) need.
