Signs Your Employees are Unhappy and How to Help Them

As time goes by, you notice a change in employee behavior. Something doesn’t feel right anymore, but how do you know what the real issue is? Read through some of the signs that your employees are unhappy and how you can help them!

They Complete the Bare Minimum

Managers establish benchmarks and deadlines that employees much meet each week or month. They provide employees with a baseline so that they know how much work they need to finish within a time frame. However, some employees may complete just enough to get by.

There are a couple of different reasons why they’re completing the bare minimum. An exhausted employee might receive too much work and require assistance. Or perhaps they dislike the type of work they’re doing and want something more engaging.

How Can You Help?

Schedule a conversation with the employee and discuss their productivity. When you’re kind and open-minded, the employee will feel safe to communicate their emotions and concerns. Ensure that the conversation doesn’t come across as a punishment. From there, you can discuss ways to make a change so that the employee feels happier at work.

They Isolate Themselves From Others

As employees lose their spark of enjoyment from their job, they will gradually isolate themselves from others. They will limit participation in meetings and avoid going out of their way to speak to others.

Not every team has deep friendships, but everyone should be friendly and communicate often. If any employees demonstrate a sudden change in socialization behaviors, perhaps you need to try something new.

How Can You Help?

If you notice this disconnect, schedule a team-building exercise. Try to excite the employees about communicating with one another through a fun and unique activity.

These team-building exercises will instill excitement and a thrill for work again. As you rejuvenate the employee’s connection with the team, they’ll also grow their enthusiasm for the job.

There’s a Change in the Employee’s Demeanor

In addition to isolating themselves from others, you may become aware that the once talkative and bubbly employee you knew is now quiet, short-tempered, and disrespectful. The drastic, abrupt change is jarring. What happened to cause this switch in behavior?

How Can You Help?

Managers who speak openly and empathetically to employees institute the strongest connection with their team. Schedule a meeting to candidly discuss any and all concerns you currently have with the employee’s behavior. Listen carefully to their responses and determine the root of the problem. From there, you can make resolutions together.

They Experience Conflicts With Coworkers

Not all people get along! As everyone works to complete projects, conflict and tension will arise.

Perhaps you notice a sign that employees are unhappy because they’re constantly arguing with a coworker. They butt heads on projects and never finish work promptly due to disagreements.

How Can You Help?

To help them, start by scheduling a discussion separately with each of the employees, then have a meeting together. Understand each story and the various troubles they face. This will alleviate tension and hopefully create more productivity between the two.

On the other hand, you can try assigning another employee to the project. Some people can’t get along, no matter how much they try. If you’re truly struggling with getting the employees to agree, consider allowing the unhappy employee to work with someone else.

The quintessence of a positive work environment is rooted in the characteristics of an effective business leader. It ensures you’re actively working to cultivate a happy and productive workplace for all employees. When you’re empathetic and genuine, employees will feel welcome and satisfied with their jobs.