The most vital resource in any company is the people that make the business possible. And yet, many companies treat their employees as less-than-human resources, to be used for immediate gain and then discarded when no longer needed.
This kind of treatment can have a devastating effect on morale and productivity. If you notice any of the signs below in your own team members, you need to focus on employee appreciation. One way to do that is to invest in employee gifts as tokens of your gratitude. An excellent resource for all your employee gifting needs is PFR Corporate Gifts, a gift certificate company.
In the business landscape, strategy is everything, and employee gifting is no exception. Timing recognition initiatives right can mean the difference between gifts that fall flat and bonuses that raise spirits. Whether your pat on the back comes in the form of gift certificates or priceless PTO, these small gestures can resolve larger-than-life issues and revive deflated employees. For those leaders keeping their eyes peeled for employees feeling deep-sixed by their nine-to-five, stay on the lookout for these six telltale signs.
Lack of commitment
An employee that shows a lack of commitment for their work is a big red flag of employee dissatisfaction. This lack of commitment will show through in many ways, but some common ones are employees who miss deadlines, have no pride in quality assurance, and display a tendency to slack off when not micromanaged. If you notice these signs globally rather than individually, it could be a sign that your employees feel their best efforts aren’t appreciated.
Increased absenteeism
Employees that feel undervalued are more likely to take time off work. Whether through flaking on meetings or just taking additional sick days, an employee who dislikes their work environment is less likely to be present for work functions. Should this chronic absenteeism occur, it can lead to decreased morale and productivity throughout the rest of your company, as the employees who do show up will have to compensate for the others.
Decreased engagement with co-workers
When employees feel like no one sees the effort they put in, they will become less engaged with their co-workers. When this happens, it can lead to a decrease in teamwork and collaboration. An unhappy or unengaged employee is not suitable for maintaining your company culture. You want employees who are happy in their roles and can work together to solve problems for your business to succeed. If you’re noticing more breakdowns in communication than usual, talk to your employees about how they’re feeling in the workplace.
Disengagement from work tasks
An employee that is feeling undervalued will soon begin to disengage from their work tasks. This disengagement can show in many ways, including an unwillingness to help colleagues or a tendency to procrastinate. However, this disengagement is especially detrimental because it will hurt their performance, leading to the next sign of an undervalued worker.
Low creativity at work
You might not think this entry is essential, especially if you don’t see your industry as one based on creativity. However, when employees feel undervalued, they are less likely to be creative and innovative in their work. Creative solutions are what put you one step ahead of the competition, so you should ensure your team members don’t feel stepped over when they come into work.
Loss of productivity
When employees feel undervalued, they will eventually produce less at work. Loss of productivity happens because of a lack of commitment, disengagement from tasks, and decreased creativity. All of these signs add up to one thing: your labor ROI decreases. Your workload might stay the same even with reduced productivity, but it will be harder to get through everything you have to do. Open up a line of communication if you’re noticing that colleagues are struggling to meet standard deadlines.
Wrap up
By paying attention to these six signs, you can tell if your employees feel undervalued at work. If they do, be sure to communicate with them about what they are feeling. Let your team know that their feelings are important to you and that your company wants to support them. Showing your employee appreciation is like the oil in your company’s machine.
