Disgruntled employees offer the ultimate challenge to management as some of their actions can harm the company and lawsuits can ensue. Employees are likened to the beating heart of any organization. They have the power to build or break any brand, and employees who are unsatisfied with their jobs can quickly become disgruntled, leading to certain types of employee sabotage including:
- Negative feedback on social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) about the company
- System tampering
- Intellectual property theft
The best prevention of disgruntled employees is ensuring that you hire the right people who align with the vision of the organization and take the steps needed to ensure a fair workplace. This could lead to a lengthier hiring process, but the end result is happier, more dedicated employees. To avoid disgruntled employees, it is wise to always be proactive. Below are some helpful ideas you can use to avoid the pitfalls of disgruntled employees.
Foster Open and Transparent Communication
Managers who choose to embrace open communication with their employees increase the job satisfaction level of the employees and their commitment. Transparency in an organization allows the employees to feel more involved in the inner workings of the company. A simple action taken by managers, such as speaking one-on-one with the employees creates a trusting relationship that helps the employees feel appreciated.
Value Employee Well-Being
Studies have shown that employees with low well-being are seven times more likely to perform poorly at work when compared to their healthy coworkers. Poor management and less than satisfactory bosses are closely linked to high blood pressure, sleep problems and anxiety in their employees. When employees feel sick, overworked or tired they become disengaged and are more likely to become unhappy at work. To avoid this, managers should ensure that employees get ample time off and have adequate flexibility in the workplace so they are in a position to balance their personal life and work.
Offer Advancement and Professional Development Opportunities
Today, most companies have embraced professional development; however, many seem to overlook less motivated employees and focus only on what they consider the “overachievers.” An employee’s ability to use their skills and abilities at work is among the top contributors to job satisfaction. It is advised that managers talk to individuals about their goals and what they hope to achieve. This will give them insight on the professional aspirations and individual employee strengths. With this knowledge, managers are in a position to help employees grow within the organization.
Dealing with disgruntled employees should start from the top with management and also at the beginning of the recruitment process. It’s important to develop a culture that will bring out the best in employees, but sometimes, no matter what you do to help your employees grow, there may still be times where you have a disgruntled employee. If this occurs, it is imperative that you consult the help of a legal professional immediately to avoid a potential legal matter. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, contact our Naples experts at (239) 649-6555 or our Marco Island experts at (239) 394-5161.