How Do I Know If Employees Are Not Engaged?

Is employee engagement on your radar? You may need to rethink your priorities if it isn’t at the top of your mind.

Engagement is achieved when employees engage their talents and reach their full potential. In turn, your customers benefit, and your business wins.

Studies show that companies with strong engagement are 3x more likely to retain their employees, generate 4x (or 400%) more revenue, and are targeted by 94% of job seekers. Making sure your employees are engaged matters.

6 Red Flags Of Low Employee Engagement 

It is important to understand that strong employee engagement does not mean employees feel happy all the time, although strong engagement does increase overall happiness and morale. Instead, employee engagement means that employees feel they have a stake in the game and a sense of purpose.

They know what they are playing for and what the end result should be. And if they are engaged, they are willing to give everything they’ve got to achieve that success.

Knowing how important employee engagement is to your success, what should you look for to discover if an employee is NOT engaged? Here are a few red flags to keep an eye out for:

1. High Employee Turnover

Highly talented people do not want to work in a toxic environment and will search for a place where they can find others who feel as they do.

2. Office Gossip and Cliques That Divide a Workforce

In this environment, people can feel unsupported while also lowering their trust in those they work with. Instead of a positive culture, this type of culture is one of toxicity and reduced inclusiveness. Feeling like you belong is instrumental in helping employees thrive.

3. Absenteeism

A rise in people calling out of work is a good measure of engagement. A few things are often associated when these numbers rise – burnout, personal issues, and disengagement. All of these can be addressed if you create a culture where people are a priority.

4. Lack of Recognition

Not a new trend, but people want to be noticed for their efforts. If you are not hearing a lot of recognition in your workplace, this is a sign that you need to adjust. This is not a pat on the head concept but a true view of how someone has made a difference and contributed to the company’s success.

5. Lack of Communication Between People and Departments

If there is an increase in departmental conflict, signs point to a culture of finger-pointing. Taking ownership and being collaborative to make improvements should be the mindset. Keeping lines of communication open, where teams trust each other to do what’s best for the company and each other, is the endgame.

6. Lack of Energy and Lack of Purpose for Daily Work

Are you noticing people arriving at work later than normal, taking longer lunches, or leaving early? They may be experiencing stress in the workplace. Being worn out physically and emotionally can take its toll when people don’t feel motivated or connected to their work environment.

Conclusion 

When a company’s culture is bad, employee engagement will be low. Paying attention to these signs is a good place to start.

If you see any of these signs in your workplace, it is time to make a plan to turn things around. Investing in your people is the smartest commitment you can make to drive your business and elevate your culture.