Top 10 Reasons Why Employees Become Disengaged

Why are people so unhappy with their jobs? What triggers their disengagement? Some would say that a company’s leader is the person responsible for a worker’s dissatisfaction and lack of interest; others on the other hand, blame it on the company as a whole. Regardless, here are 10 reasons why employees feel disengaged at the workplace.

1. Stress and isolation

We don’t live in the 20^th century anymore, where people had to stay isolated in their cubicles for 8 hours a day. The definition of a stressful work space doesn’t have to be linked to a “bad boss”. Isolation and loneliness can do a lot more harm. A stressful environment is not defined by managers and CEOs always screaming and shouting at you; it is defined by a remote, lonely and boring office where you don’t interact with people and you work non-stop.

2. The absence of a boss

When a company doesn’t have a leader to lead the way, chaos can happen. People will start doing whatever they want around the office, nobody will abide by the rules, workers will arrive late and in the end, and the whole company dynamic will collapse. In the absence of a boss, employees don’t feel engaged because they have nobody to appreciate the work that they do.

3. No training

If your company has never offered training to employees, then maybe it’s time to reconsider. People want to learn, they want to expand their horizons and try new things; if you’re not opening doors for them, their engagement will drop and eventually they will quit.

4. No raise

When was the last time your company offered significant raises to employees? If you can’t remember then your employees’ disengagement rate is extremely high. Every once in a while (every 2 years for instance), workers must get salary increases to motivate them to work harder and with more pleasure. Although money is not a definitive factor in boosting employee engagement, it matters.

5. Non-financial incentives

If you can’t afford to increase salaries and offer raises, you can at least offer non-financial incentives. Better working hours, more comfortable work spaces, more vacation time and bonuses based on competencies are things that motivate employees to work harder. Unfortunately, very few companies offer non-financial incentives which in time triggers disengagement and dissatisfaction.

6. No respect

How can you expect people to respect you and your company, when you’re not giving any respect? Managers and leaders who scream and shout all day long are categorized as “horrible bosses”. They instill fear and apprehension, emotions that will eventually compel employees to look for a different job.

7. Lack of communication

Communication is the glue that keeps a company together. When employers and employees communicate, the company dynamics is maintained afloat. Problems are getting solved, concerns are getting fixed, and employees are kept engaged and focused on their jobs. When there’s lack of communication, disengagement materializes and the effects are dreadful for a company’s bottom line.

8. Annoying co-workers

As strange as it may seem, some employees feel disengaged because of their peers. People can be devious and deceitful creatures, and in some circumstances they can affect your work. What’s even sadder is that many employees remain quiet, and they choose not to tell that they’re being bothered by a colleague.

9. Monotony

Many work spaces are steady and boring. It’s natural for monotony to kick in when you’re doing the exact same thing every single day. You start feeling sad and unappreciated, and this triggers disengagement. Company leaders should be aware of this fact; they should try and set up extracurricular activities for employees, just to awaken their spirit and make them feel valued anymore. Buy them dinner after a difficult month, take them on a free weekend getaway, or just talk to them more often, and you’ll be able to boost employee engagement.

10. Too many restrictions

Many company policies are absurd, some are even ridiculous. Offering breaks of only 30 minutes, not allowing employees to eat at their desk, forbidding women to wear skirts and makeup are conditions that some employees can’t accept. Having too many restrictions triggers disengagement, and in the end the feeling turns into despair and hatred. Eventually, you’ll lose valuable workers and you’ll have to find others willing to abide by the same outlandish rules.