staffing doctor

Employee Disengagement

Daniel Abramson

Today's worker is disconnected from the workplace. The result? High turnover.

This shouldn't come as much of a surprise, since companies have been laying off employees in staggering numbers, salaries have been frozen, and, for many, bonuses have been non-existent.

While one can argue that these measures have been necessary in order for companies to survive in tough times, a recent study suggests that employees are feeling neglected as a result.

Staffing experts around the country are, in fact, predicting that employee turnover will rise in 2010 as the economy continues to pick up.

QUESTIONS TO ASK

If you're wondering about engagement levels in your practice, consider what your staff's responses might be to these 11 questions:

1 Do you know what is expected of you at work?
2 Do you have the information, equipment, and direction you need to do your work well?
3 Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?
4 In the last seven days, have you received recognition or praise for doing a good job? (Or, conversely, are people looking to catch you doing something wrong?)
5 Does your supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about you as a person?
6 Is there someone who encourages your development and forward momentum?
7 Do your opinions seem to count or does no one seem to listen?
8 Are your fellow employees committed to doing a quality job and working hard?
9 In the last six months, has someone at work discussed your progress and contributions?
10 In the last year, have you had opportunities to learn and grow…or is it the same thing every single day?
11 When was the last time that staff members received a salary increase or performance bonus?

PASSION=PERFORMANCE

Why are the answers to these questions so important? Because engaged employees are passionate about what they do and will drive innovation to move the practice forward. EB

Daniel Abramson is the president and founder of StaffDynamics.

Staffers Speak Up

In a recent online survey, a national staffing firm surveyed 904 workers in North America.

According to the results:

• 60 percent of the respondents plan to leave their jobs when economic conditions get better
• 21 percent say maybe, and they've already updated their resumes
• 13 percent report they intend to stay with their current employers