Motivated employees are something that every business strives for. Unfortunately, unhappy employees work in almost all businesses. Before you can strive for engaged employees, you first need to examine what makes employees unmotivated and unhappy in their jobs. In this two-part series, Padgett Payroll Services® asks you to consider these common reasons why an employee may hate his or her occupation.
According to Gallup’s 2013 State of the American Workplace report, only 30 percent of employees are engaged and inspired at work. 52 percent are not particularly excited about their job, but go to work anyway, and the remaining 18 percent are actively disengaged. These actively disengaged employees are a danger to productivity, as they tend to spread discontent to other employees in the workplace, costing the US up to 550 billion dollars annually in lost time.
Poor Communication: When employees have little information about workplace situations, they are bound to end up confused, frustrated and making guesses that turn into rumors. If there is not a clear avenue to receive information from leadership, the problem only gets worse. Whether the situation is the project status of an absentee coworker or the details of a particular client’s account, employees need ready access to information pertaining to their job. When they do not have ample information or are misinformed, they are unlikely to get the job done correctly, if at all. Clear communication makes for a more efficient and happier workplace.
Boredom: Most people want to find fulfillment in their careers. A recent article in the Huffington Post revealed that a large majority of American workers believe that finding a job that’s personally fulfilling is worth sacrifices in salary. Contrary to the philosophy of older management styles, employee boredom cannot be fixed with more work, but rather with better work. Employees who feel motivated and inspired by their work are happier and more productive.
Unpleasant Work Environment: Actively disengaged employees are known for their ability to spread malcontent and cause spirit-shaking disruptions. Negativity in the workplace can affect even the most motivated employee. On the other side of the spectrum, positivity in the workplace creates better bonds amongst employees and negates the impact of the actively disengaged employees’ complaints. The importance of working with people we get along with cannot be overstated; remember, the average full time employee spends a third of each day (or half of all waking hours) at work. The people they are with make a big difference in their quality of life. Make an ultimatum to those employees that drag down your team. If they do not want to work for your company, then they need to quit. If they insist on working there, they need to reflect their desire to work in their attitudes.
Padgett Payroll Services®, your small business payroll expert, will continue discussing the reasons employees become unhappy with their jobs. For more information on the payroll services we offer, contact us today.