5 Signs of Employee Disengagement (+ Solutions)
By Marta Gongos Hiring excellent employees is one problem, keeping them engaged is another. With 62% of employees disengaged at work, costing businesses worldwide, it’s a big issue your company might be facing and need to solve.
There are two types of employee disengagement: disengaged employees who put in time and minimal effort to their work, and actively disengaged employees who act on their unhappiness. Both affect the morale of engaged employees, threatening workplace culture.
How can you pinpoint these employees and help them get back on track? Within this article, we’ve outlined the indicators of employee disengagement and provided strategies for swiftly re-engaging them in the workplace.
1. Lack of Productivity and Poor Work Quality
Dedicated employees deliver good results to help the company excel; disengaged employees couldn’t care less about work. Their low productivity causes them to underperform, miss deadlines, and become inefficient in the workforce.
They’re also prone to making more mistakes than usual, causing work quality to drop significantly. If you have a team member who used to be a goal-getter, it’s time to check in with them to see what’s wrong.
2. Isolation from Peers
Disengaged employees tend to withdraw from other team members and isolate themselves. They no longer participate in group discussions, respond to emails, or join team-building events. It could be due to indifference, a lack of interest, and being critical of colleagues.
3. Develops a Negative Attitude
A disengaged employee can develop active disengagement. They become more critical of management, colleagues, and other elements of the organization and voice this to others. This sours the work environment and invites other employees to feel the same way.
Read more: 8 Warning Signs An Employee is About to Quit
4. Increased Absenteeism and Frequent Breaks
Employee disengagement is synonymous with poor employee performance. Disengaged employees show a lack of enthusiasm and don’t show up to work as expected. They take frequent breaks and indulge in unhealthy habits or prolonging time off on purpose.
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5. Lack of Interest in Development
When employees are disengaged at work, they’re indifferent to growth opportunities. Unlike engaged employees, they won’t take the initiative to learn a new skill or take the chance to progress their careers. Their lack of vision in the company could explain why.
How to Address Employee Disengagement
Having an open mind is the best way to address disengaged employees. A cookie-cutter approach won’t work since everyone has different issues that must be addressed individually. With that said, below are some steps to start.
Identify Reasons for Employee Disengagement
First, get to the bottom of the issue by having team members answer surveys and anonymous feedback about employee disengagement.
Have 1-on-1 Meetings With Disengaged Employees
Set 1-on-1 meetings with disengaged employees. Create a welcoming and supportive environment so they can express their thoughts freely. When you start a conversation, it’s nice to ask how they’ve been recently.
Try to avoid discussing deep or serious topics unless they bring it up first. This approach can help keep the interaction light and comfortable for both parties.
By asking thoughtful and considerate questions, inquire about their well-being and the root of their dissatisfaction—whether it’s absenteeism or a negative work attitude. Subsequently, inquire about the resources, opportunities, and assistance required to enhance their engagement.
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Be Direct And Clarify Work Expectations
You’re not only meeting to check up on them; you’re there to remind them of their job responsibilities. Be direct about their performance and explain where they stand. List your expectations or goals with them, making sure you see eye to eye.
Create Formal Engagement Plans
Now that you’ve leveled the field, create an engagement plan. Customize one for each disengaged employee for better results. Here are things to consider when creating a plan:
- Define concrete problems and goals
- Come up with solutions that target the needs of your employees
- Decide on a timeline to ensure you’re on the right track
- Prepare a reasonable budget for employee engagement activities
Find Engaged Employees With Ad Culture
Employee disengagement is no stranger in the workplace, but it’s a problem you won’t have to face with the ideal employee. At Ad Culture, our team specializes in connecting you with highly engaged employees who are not only prepared to tackle their roles with enthusiasm and vigor but also bring a fresh perspective and innovative thinking to drive your business forward.
Leave your hiring tasks to Toronto’s leading recruitment agency and let our pool of experienced candidates impress you with their skills and dedication. Contact us to know more.
