Signs of Unsatisfied Employees
by Maria Christensen, Demand Media
Errors in work, complaints and poor customer service are signs of an unsatisfied employee.
It isn't easy to identify unsatisfied
employees just by looking at them. The signs and symptoms of dissatisfaction
and low morale are often more subtle. However, there are common trends among
unsatisfied employees that indicate you might have a problem that you need to
address. Disgruntled employees can negatively affect productivity, morale and
the reputation of your company.
Attendance
Regular tardiness, high absenteeism and
long lunch breaks are common among dissatisfied employees and often accompany
low productivity. When other employees have to fill in for absent co-workers,
resentment builds and low morale spreads. Attendance problems are sometimes an
indication that the employee is dealing with pressing personal issues rather
than work issues, so good communication is important for discovering where the
problem lies.
Quality of Work
Productivity is a good indicator of
employee satisfaction. If an employee's quality of work falls off dramatically,
it may be an indication of dissatisfaction. It could also be caused by personal
issues or problems with co-workers, so it's important to find out the
underlying cause. Regular errors, sloppy work and low productivity are not only
signs of an unsatisfied employee, they can affect a company's bottom line.
Complaints
Inattention to detail and inaccurate
work affects customers, clients and co-workers. An increase in customer
complaints can point to a problem with a specific employee or groups of
employees. Co-workers may complain about having to deal with the results of
poor work done by others. An employee may be facing unrealistic expectations or
a high workload, or may need more training. The reasons for complaints should
be addressed before the company starts to lose clients.
Attitude
A bad attitude can manifest in frequent
complaints, arguments and poor customer service. Everyone has an off day now
and then, but continual sullenness and outbreaks of temper can affect the whole
office. An employee who fails to follow instructions or refuses requests from
supervisors is not a happy employee. Sudden changes in appearance and hygiene
are symptoms of a negative attitude. Resolve the issues underlying poor
attitude immediately before it spreads in the company.
Turnover
People regularly leave jobs to advance
their careers or for personal reasons, but employees leaving in droves may
point to a high level of dissatisfaction. An employee with some seniority in
the company suddenly turning in a resignation is often a signal that something
is wrong within your organization. Exit interviews are an opportunity to
discover why employees are leaving the company and may identify areas in which
to improve.
Warning
Most unsatisfied employees are unhappy
with their jobs for specific reasons, many of which can be addressed. However,
in some cases, the signs an unsatisfied employee exhibits may be a precursor to
workplace violence. Train management and staff to recognize some of the warning
signs that can lead to violence, such as threats, property destruction, overt
hostility and talk of suicide. Make it clear to employees that such behavior
should immediately be reported to management.
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