Employee Engagement: 4 Telltale Signs That Your New Hire Won't Stay
In a time and age where unemployment is at an all-time low, it is no surprise that employees are spoilt for choice when it comes to work. Thus, HR professionals and business owners are often working hard when it comes to employee engagement in hope that they will be able to retain their top talent. HR will also be on the lookout for warning signs if their new candidates will not stay on. Here are 4 signs that your new hire won't be staying on.
Missing in action
New employees typically try to avoid taking time off work as much as they can to show their commitment to the new role especially if they are on probation. While it is perfectly normal for any employee to take time off work or call in sick occasionally, a sudden spike in workplace absenteeism is a sure indicator of trouble on the horizon.
New employees who are suddenly taking extra time off from work could be using the time to search for a new job, attend job interviews, trying to make the most of their workplace benefits before leaving or very simply be feeling disengaged. Thus as an employer, you should approach this situation gently and try to understand what exactly is the problem.
Rather than having a formal meeting session, consider speaking to said employee over a cup of coffee in an informal environment or have a quick catch-up session in the pantry. This approach is less intimidating and may encourage an employee to open up about his/her problems.
Down and out (the door)
While it is unrealistic to expect employees to show up for work daily with a big smile on their face, sudden changes in your employees' disposition is a warning sign. If a once cheerful co-worker suddenly develops a surly and sullen disposition, this is a sure indicator that somewhere, something is very wrong.
Perhaps your employee is dealing with a personal problem at home which leaves the matter beyond your control. While some employees are introverted and are happier on their own, failure to participate in company activities and celebrations is a sure sign that this employee is disengaged and unhappy.
Employees become disgruntled for a variety of reasons that range from dissatisfaction with their careers to simply an inability to get along with their co-workers.
As a HR professional or business owner, there a variety of ways to tackle this issue. Firstly, instead of approaching the employee in question directly, conduct discrete observations of how this employee interacts with his/her co-workers. From here, you can determine if there are any signs of bullying or ostracism.
Secondly, the employee can be approached in an informal setting or via a quick pulse-check session to gain insight into how he/she is coping with work and allow said employee to vent his/her frustrations or concerns.
A lack of enthusiasm
Typically, engaged employees are passionate and enthusiastic about their work, always ready to participate and volunteer in the latest projects. While it is unfair to expect an employee to be perpetually enthusiastic about work, a sudden lack of enthusiasm or a withdrawn, non-committal attitude is a sign that your employee may be contemplating leaving.
New employees are usually keen on making a good impression on their colleagues and superiors during their first few months of work. Thus a sudden change of pace and a non-committal attitude is a sure sign that your employee is in trouble.
This could be caused by issues like an inability to work with other employees or even mismatched expectations. Hence as a business owner/ HR professional, the best way to deal with such issues is by conducting a discreet meeting with the employee in question in order to determine the exact nature of the troubles facing said employee.
Preventive action can be taken by conducting regular "pulse checks" in order to better engage with new employees. These "pulse checks" are a great way of nipping potential problems in the bud.
Increased time off
Another tell-tale sign that your new joiner may be leaving soon is a sudden increase in vacation time taken. A sudden increase in vacation time taken is an indication that your employees may be using the time off to attend interviews, conduct job searches, settle-up personal affairs or maybe even maxing out their benefits before they resign.
While an employee may simply be taking more time off in order to rest and recuperate from a particularly rough period, typically an increase in vacation time taken would also be followed by other signs as discussed previously.
At the end of the day employers need to determine if an employee is worth retaining. An inability to align goals along with culture and personality clashes will only hurt the organization in the long-term. Hence, employers should consider all options when deciding if said employee should be retained or not. Employers need to be constantly vigilant for signs that their employees may be jumping ship at any time. Regular follow ups and a clear understanding of their employees is a great way to reduce staff turnover. For more great tips, visit https://www.jobstreet.com.my/en/cms/employer/insights/