Unhappy employees are pretty transparent. They begin to lose productivity and stop engaging with their coworkers. When their performance begins to slip it is the manager’s job to handle the situation. It is less expensive to retain a current employee than go through the hiring process, so while you could solve the problem by firing the employee it shouldn’t be the first step. When you have an upset and unhappy employee on your hands, here are some ways to reengage them.
Interview Current Employees.
Exit interviews are helpful but the information comes too little too late. While you may learn things that can make you improve as a manager or a company, you are still left to backfill that position. Talk to your current employees to find out what they do and don’t like on the job and with the company. Assure them that their answers are confidential and won’t negatively affect them. Most importantly use the information to improve the workplace.
Provide Positive Feedback.
Often an employee is upset because they feel their job is not being appreciated. They feel that they are often called out for mistakes but never praised for accomplishments. Before an employee even considers leaving the job you should provide them positive feedback, encouragement, and respect. Recognize accomplishments as a matter of course.
Accept Negative Feedback.
Employees should be encouraged to provide feedback to you as a manager, even if that feedback is negative. Keep an open door policy and really listen to concerns. An employee likes to know that they are being taken seriously. Once again, make sure they know that this feedback won’t adversely affect them.
Flexible Schedules.
Work/life balance, or lack thereof, is another big reason for dissatisfaction on the job. Employees become burned out when they spend more time with their coworkers than with their families. As your business allows, let employees work from home or do a four 10-hour day work week with a day off.
Are you looking for ways to handle upset employees and keep them on the team? The professional staff at TAG HR are available to assist you with your employee relations issues.
