Disengaged Employees Cost Companies LOTS of Money (Infographic)

The last thing you want in a company is a disengaged employee. From a company’s perspective, they will cost you time, money and could end up disrupting the rest of your workforce. Spotting a disengaged employee is actually pretty easy. They’re not the most productive bunch and put little to no effort into their work. Not only is the lack of productivity a clear tell-tale sign, but there are also a few indicators to keep an eye out for. So as a manager, what should you be looking out for?

1. Employees who are continuously late

We’re not talking about being late once or twice here. If an employee is strolling in late every day to work, then it’s clear that they are disengaged. Of course, employees might genuinely have a reason for being late and you can excuse someone for being 5-15 minutes late. If an employee is very late, then it’s time for a chat. Furthermore, if an employee is having excessive lunch breaks or leaving work early then they’re probably taking a few more shortcuts. The sooner you address the situation with the employee, the sooner the problem is addressed.

2. High employee churn rate

High employee churn is worrying about any company. It’s a key indicator that you as a company, might not be doing everything you can for your employees. Depending on the industry you’re in, there can often be high employee turnover rates. Engagement rates are often the main reason for employees leaving a company. If they feel undervalued or if their opportunities are limited then they will soon be packing up their bags to go somewhere with brighter prospects. Exit interviews are a good way of getting feedback from your employees who decide to leave. You can then address whatever problem they raise internally so it doesn’t happen again.

3. Employees who complain a lot

If an employee is constantly complaining about their job then it’s another clear sign that your employee is disengaged. If an employee is complaining about their job then you can be sure that they’re not doing it to the best of their ability. How do you go about resolving this issue? If they’re underperforming in their day-to-day tasks then it’s probably time you sat down with that employee and have a chat. On the other hand, it could be that the employee doesn’t find their role challenging enough and wants more responsibility. Most people want to progress in their career, so taking time out to listen to feedback will certainly show that you care.

These are only 3 examples where disengaged employees affect a business. But if you look at the bigger picture, not only does it affect the atmosphere of the workplace but it also costs the company a LOT of money. This is especially the case if allow the problem to continue. The good folks over at Pearson Education and Villanova University School of Business have put together this excellent infographic listing all the things you should be keeping an eye out for!