Although it is not always immediately obvious to higher-ups, employee disengagement can quickly have a huge impact on a wider team within an organisation if it is not addressed.
Even in large companies where employees often
Once disengagement starts to spread, company culture and productivity can take a big hit, so it’s important that steps are taken to prevent it in the first place.
The Key Signs of Employee Disengagement to Look Out for
Considering that
Let’s talk about some of the main signs an employee may be feeling disengaged from their job.
Reduced communication: Once an employee becomes disengaged, they will naturally withdraw from their team and become quieter. Whether this is in the form of being less forthcoming with ideas, not participating in team meetings, or engaging in less office chit-chat, this is a huge sign that the employee has less interest in what is happening around them at work.
Drop in work quality: Even if tasks are still being completed on time, if there is a noticeable change in the standard of work, this could be an indicator of disengagement. Once an employee stops putting in the effort, this can quickly have a knock-on effect on the rest of the team and client relationships, so it needs to be addressed fast.
Negative humour: If an employee feels disengaged, subtle behaviors such as eye rolls and negative comments can start to creep in. Comments as seemingly small as “here we go again” or “there’s no point in this” may seem harmless, but can quickly spread among the team and impact the working environment for everyone around.
Doing the bare minimum: Carrying out the tasks that have to be done, but no more, is a sign that an employee is disengaged and has lost interest in doing a good job. Whether they are resisting a recent change or are frustrated at how other colleagues are collaborating on a task, this behavior can hinder the productivity of the wider team and add extra work to their plates.
The Damage of Disengagement in Large Organisations
When an employee shows signs of disengagement, it doesn’t stop there. It is very common for the signs to spread across a large organization, and this can quickly become damaging for the business.
If communication weakens, jobs are not being completed to their full potential, and negative humor becomes standard in the workplace, the outputs are bound to be of a noticeably poorer quality. This means that clients are not receiving the level of service they expected, which can result in damage to the reputation of the business.
Since large organizations have so many employees, it is impossible to expect disengagement not exist, but the key is to stop it from spreading to other employees.
Managers and HR teams need to be regularly checking in with their teams to make sure that everyone is supported and happy at work, and if there are any early signs of disengagement, this needs to be addressed before the problem worsens.
Preventing the Spread of Employee Disengagement
Before disengagement takes hold and spreads among a team, leaders need to make sure that they are taking steps to avoid it.
Here are some of the most effective strategies that can be implemented to maintain an engaged and motivated workforce:
Recognize Successes
However big or small they may seem, having achievements acknowledged can help employees feel more valued for their efforts. If they know that they will be appreciated for going above and beyond, it will make them more likely to stay motivated.
Using an
Welcome Feedback and Suggestions
Being hesitant to change and not aligning with managers are both common reasons for employee disengagement, so hearing what they have to say can help a business prevent this.
In larger organizations, employees can feel as if their voice is not heard, so creating a transparent work environment can help everyone feel involved.
One-on-one catch-ups between employees and their manager are a great way to ensure everyone has the support they need and gives people an opportunity to share any frustrations they may have.
Implementing anonymous surveys or feedback forms is another way to give employees a voice within the organization and help leaders understand why some employees may feel unhappy.
Support Personal Development
Everyone has their own career goals, and if they feel they have come to a standstill in their role, they are bound to start looking elsewhere for new opportunities.
To help retain talent and keep employees motivated, large organizations should invest in the development of their team.
Introducing mentoring programmes, holding training courses, and offering internal promotions are all good ways to upskill employees and help them grow within their roles.
The Importance of Spotting Disengagement Early On
If an employee is showing signs of disengagement, the chance is that they are not the only one.
In large organizations, attitudes can spread like wildfire, and if people start to lose motivation within their roles, it can quickly have an impact on the overall business.
Managers and HR teams need to stay on top of this to ensure that they can maintain a positive company culture and retain their employees.
By implementing strategies to give all employees a voice, celebrate their achievements, and support their personal growth, an organisation can create a more positive work environment for everyone involved.