March 8, 2021, by HR Search & Rescue It is important to address disgruntled employees promptly. Otherwise, the employee’s behavior may worsen and become disruptive to other employees or to the productivity of the company. There are many reasons an employee may feel dissatisfied with their situation. For example, an employee may feel disgruntled if they did not receive a promotion they were hoping to receive. This review discusses how to handle a disgruntled employee in a professional and effective manner. What Is A Disgruntled Employee? A disgruntled employee is an employee that is not happy with their current situation. The term “disgruntled” means “angry or dissatisfied.” A dissatisfied or angry employee may not do anything disruptive in the workplace, but it is still a concern. A disgruntled employee is more likely to become disruptive, produce less than desirable results in their work or leave the company. Subsequently, finding out the reason for their dissatisfaction and working towards a solution is essential for ensuring the long-term productivity of your company’s workflow. How To Identify A Disgruntled Employee There are certain signs that you should look for to determine if any employees are disgruntled. When identifying a disgruntled employee, you should review employee feedback, record and review tardiness or absences and review the performance of your employees quarterly to look for any notable decline in production among any employees in your place of work. Document Negative Employee Feedback Employee feedback is very useful in determining the status of the workplace environment. Disgruntled employees may be more willing to express the way they feel when they are asked directly and in a manner they feel safe answering. Any negative reports are a sign that one or more employees are disgruntled. Record Tardiness Or Absences Tardiness or absences are often a sign of a larger issue. When employees are not happy with their work, they are much more likely to skip it every chance they get. This includes excessively long breaks, long lunches and late starts as well as paid (and unpaid) time off. Conduct Quarterly Performance Reviews Performance is also a sign of a larger issue. Employees that are disgruntled are less motivated to produce quality results for the company. Quarterly performance reviews allow you to document the regular performance of employees. A significant decline in performance is a sign that the employee is disgruntled. How To Deal With A Disgruntled Employee It is important to treat every disgruntled employee in a unique way, as a cookie-cutter approach may not always address the root of the issue. However, there are certain methods of dealing with a disgruntled employee that is most often successful. The following are tips to help you deal with a disgruntled employee. Keep in mind, there is only so much a non-professional can do to diffuse a workplace concern, and it is always best to work with an HR professional for serious matters. Remain Calm And Professional Unfortunately, many employers make matters worse by coming down hard on disgruntled employees. Instead, keep a positive tone and act professionally. For example, tell the employee how great they were doing before their decline in productivity began and ask with sincerity if there is any particular reason they may not be as productive, noting that you are there to help them succeed. Address The Situation As Soon As Possible The longer a disgruntled employee is not addressed, the higher the chance of them becoming disruptive. Be sure to act swiftly once you notice one or more signs that a certain employee is dissatisfied or angry at work. Keep Conversations Confidential Remember, the primary goal of dealing with a disgruntled employee is to prevent the situation from becoming disruptive. If the situation becomes public, then it immediately becomes a distraction to others within the company. Keep the conversations private, and allow the employee to speak freely about their concerns. Provide Training And Counseling Training and counseling can help with disgruntled employees. This is particularly the case if the employee is disgruntled due to a lack of confidence or issues dealing with their own problems. By providing the employee with mental health resources and the training they need to succeed in their role, it shows you care and are there to help. Document Employee Progress Never assume a disgruntled employee is now happy until it shows itself in an objective and measurable way. Be sure to track the employee’s productivity within the company and consider follow-up meetings to ensure all is well. Speak With An Independent HR Consultant Today Here at HR Search and Rescue, we offer assistance in dealing with disgruntled employees. If you have one or more employees that are angry or dissatisfied in the workplace, then contact us to find out how we can help you remedy the situation and maintain the health and productivity of your place of business.
