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What’s Next For Your Micro-Business
Do Your Employees Hate Their Jobs?
A Gallup poll found that about 77 percent of Americans hate their jobs. In a report by CareerBuilder.com, “Retail Workers 2005,” 48 percent of the retail workers surveyed said that they do not look forward to going to work each day.
In the CareerBuilder.com survey, more than two-thirds of respondents observed that their workloads rose significantly in the last six months, and 35 percent said that they struggle to maintain a healthy work/life balance. The pressure to meet the demands of their customers, employers and families has left 48 percent feeling excessive stress on the job.
Chances are some of your employees feel the same. And it’s costing your small business dearly.
Job dissatisfaction causes absenteeism and employee turnover. It also contributes to the loss of creativity and productivity.
“When you add it all up, the cost is in the trillions,” says Scott Hunter, author of “Making Work Work” (Hunter Alliance Press, 2003).
Hunter has consulted with organizations for more than 20 years. He’s seen firsthand how personality conflicts, power struggles, people not feeling appreciated or understood, employee turnover, ineffective sales, and breakdowns in customer service negatively impact a company’s bottom line.
It doesn’t have to be that way, says Hunter. As a business owner and as an employer, you can make small changes that will turn the tide against employee dissatisfaction.
What You Can Do
To inject satisfaction and fulfillment back into your workforce, Hunter offers these top four workplace complaints and how you, as an employer, can overcome them:
#1 Complaint: “My boss doesn’t recognize, respect or reward my efforts.”
Solution: What employees want most are recognition, inclusion and acknowledgement. When workers feel appreciated, productivity soars. Find ways to sincerely show your employees that their work is appreciated.
#2 Complaint: “Why do people spend so much time gossiping and talking behind each other’s backs?”
Solution: Learn to be open and honest with your communication, and remind others to do the same. Be honest with your customers, your supplies and your employees.
#3 Complaint: “All the company cares about is the money.”
Solution: If you want your small business to fulfill its profit potential, you need to focus first on the business environment. The money will follow.
#4 Complaint: “I hate it when the higher-ups make major policy changes, never considering how they will impact the people who get the work done.”
Solution: Give employees an opportunity to participate in major decisions. The time and effort you spend doing this will be richly rewarded.
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(Posted February 2005) |
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