Disgruntled is, as disgruntled does
How can you tell when an employee has completely checked out? Here’s a few not so subtle signs:
1. They tell you, and everyone else, they are looking for a new job.
2. They start complaining about everything non-job related (the bathroom air fresheners, vending machine items, prize giveaways for associate appreciation events.)
3. They do the minimum requirements for their job and complain they aren’t being recognized for their contributions.
4. They are increasingly absent or tardy.
5. After a period of applying for every open position within the company, they stop.
6. They come to you for resume advice.
7. They ask you if they really need to give two weeks notice.
I know that it is not uncommon to have some employees who are unhappy, especially with the economy being so tough right now, but what do you do about the employee who is obviously mentally gone already? Can you do anything at all and do you even want to? Frankly, I’m of the opinion that if you are that upset with your current job, nothing I can do will change that. Feel free to move on and I hope your next job is better suited for you.
June 16th, 2008 saat: 3:34 pm
I believe in addressing this stuff head on — as in: “Bob, you’ve seemed really unhappy lately. What’s going on?” followed by a good faith effort to address any of Bob’s complaints that reasonably should be addressed … followed by, “I can’t make you be happy, but I do need you to not be a negative force in the office. If you’re at the point where you don’t believe you can do that, let’s talk about a transition out.”
June 16th, 2008 saat: 5:09 pm
Oh how I wish you were a manager at my company Ask a manager! Taking responsibility for your direct reports? What a novel thought around here! I’m being mean, but man I wish some of the supervisors here would step up and take the initiative when they notice a problem. They are very averse to confrontation. Maybe it’s the whole passive-agressive mid-westerner thing.
June 16th, 2008 saat: 5:54 pm
I so know the type of manager you’re talking about. In my opinion, they’re failing as managers. And I’m surprised by how often managers are allowed to get away with that — in essence, they’re getting away with simply not doing a big chunk of their jobs. It’s negligence on the part of the managers, and it’s negligence by whoever above them is allowing them to get away with it. It makes me angry.
June 17th, 2008 saat: 7:17 am
Would I not like you when you are angry? 🙂 Sorry, couldn’t help myself. Anyway, it is very frustrating to deal with. I would like to see a big shake up in the leadership team at my work or at least some major re-training.
June 26th, 2008 saat: 9:24 am
I can tell you what does NOT work, throwing money at the disgruntled employee. We have a lot of management issues at our organization and, instead of addressing them (and they are actually pretty black-and-white issues), upper management gives the direct reports more money to appease them. Within 6 months they’re just as unhappy. Sometimes the manager is causally spoken to but often the manager is not even aware of the complaint or the pay raise given to their own direct report as a result.
This situation does create an odd phenomenon though. It’s actually tough to leave because so many of us are overpaid (I include myself). Some of my co-workers have been simply miserable for years and only stay because they would take a $20-30K cut in pay to go to a similar job in the area. I would leave tomorrow for the same pay and retirement but I’m not going to get it without relocating. It’s kind of like owning the most expensive house in the neighborhood. It’s great until you need to sell it.
June 26th, 2008 saat: 11:14 am
I’m surprised by how many people try to solve things with money. Money is important but it’s not enough to keep people in a job long term if everything else sucks. Great point.