One of the challenges that HR staff face is keeping their best employees at their companies. When an employer discovers that one of their best employees is about to quit, it often comes unexpectedly. HR staff now must begin a new search for the newly vacant position and this can be costly, time consuming, and lead to a disruption of daily business. If you know what to look for with regards to a dissatisfied employee, you should be able to see warning signs that they’re about to leave the company and you may even be able to prevent an employee from going. Below are some signs that an employee might be about to quit.
Your employee seems disengaged or has a change in behavior.
One of the things you should notice in your employee is a change in demeanor. Someone who may have been previously enthusiastic and actively participating in the company’s projects now seems more irritable and argumentative. Employees who have previously had a smart dress sense might now be showing up in a much more casual (even disheveled) manner. There may be noticeable instances of an employee tuning out during meetings, and they might seem distant, no longer providing feedback or participating in social interaction with colleagues. If opportunities for advancement arise, the employee might greet such news in an aloof and disinterested manner, and pleasing the boss does not appear to be a priority anymore. You might also notice a significant drop in communication by the employee via telephone, email, or in person. Although these signs can also be a result of other reasons, they are common in employees who have lost interest in the organization.
Non-committal answers and changes in productivity.
Managers and HR staff should be aware of whether an employee is getting their work in on schedule as usual. If your employee is repeatedly missing deadlines when they have previously handed work in on time, this might be a sign that they are not as committed to the job and are focusing on looking at other positions. Your employee may also appear reluctant when being assigned a long-term project, and be vague in their language when asked about their plans for completing a project. This shows that the employee is no longer considering long term goals, often a sign that they do not anticipate that they will be with the company for the long-haul. Changes in productivity might also be noticeable, where employees who previously went beyond the call of duty in their work might now simply do the bare minimum, indicating a lack of interest and commitment. Alternatively, employees might go from having a very regular schedule of meeting deadlines, but are suddenly submitting work way ahead of schedule. This could mean that they are trying to clear their schedule to leave room for job interviews (especially if at the same time they start showing up to the job in a suit!)
Your employee keeps odd hours or takes more sick days than usual.
Your employee might be about to leave if you see that they are suddenly punching out early, are using up vacation time or taking a lot of sick days. Your employee might also change their work schedule. Instead of coming in on a regular work schedule, they are working nights, coming to work late, or working on weekends when no one else is in the office, possibly as a way to distance themselves from co-workers and avoid social interaction. Although these changes could indicate issues other than an employee who is ready to leave the company, they are also common signs that your employee is actively looking for other work and might even be going for job interviews at other companies.
Any significant changes in an employee’s behavior should always be noted and looked into further by HR, particularly if an employee requires additional support in the workplace due to personal reasons. However, HR staff should be aware that these changes can indicate an employee may be considering leaving the company or actively looking for work elsewhere. Both HR and management should take these signs as an opportunity to speak with the employee to determine the reason. If it is determined that an employee is considering leaving the company, this is a great opportunity for HR to meet with the worker and discuss if any changes can be made to retain valuable employees. If your employee quitting seems to be a foregone conclusion, HR should begin recruitment and advertising preparations early, ensuring a smooth transition for a new hire at the organization.
