Employee morale, aka the mood in your workplace, is high when workers are positive about their work environment.
Positivity amongst employees leads to a boost in productivity, better relationships with team members and managers, greater staff retention, a stronger job performance and, yes, even laughter.
If challenges arise amongst the workforce, managers can learn to spot potential issues with staff morale and deal with them head on before the problem leads to an exodus of top performers.
Here are five warning signs of low employee morale in the workplace — and ways to counteract it:
1. Changes in attitude
If you have unhappy employees on your team, it will show. Look for red flags — increased negativity, high or increased rates of absenteeism, or reduced cooperation or commitment.
Checking in with workers on a regular basis will help you gauge low employee morale and address budding problems.
2. An active grapevine of low employee morale
When communication is scarce, gossip, misinformation and conflict flourish. Even if you have bad news to share or don’t have all the answers, honesty is still the best policy.
The more team members can rely on accurate information, the less grist they’ll have for the rumor mill. Good communication will help turn the negative into positive.
Can you use some help to bring in some back-up support at your company?
3. Lack of initiative
Unmotivated employees go through the motions rather than taking an active seat at the table. Foster an ownership environment in which people have the expectations that they should take the initiative, demonstrate leadership and solve problems in creative ways.
Not only will that improve employee morale at your company, but it will help your workforce thrive in any kind of economy.
4. Scarce rewards
Step up efforts to offer employee recognition with praise, low-cost awards and spot bonuses for accomplishments.
Make rewards personal, and give them as soon as possible after an achievement to raise workplace morale and lower staff turnover.
5. Poor performance
Low morale can quickly affect a team’s quality of work. Signs of trouble include missed deadlines, an increase in mistakes or a decline in service levels.
Ask your team members if they feel burdened by the amount of work they have to do. Take full responsibility for providing the support they need and creating a positive work environment.
