In a recent article published by the BBC, author Bryan Lufkin talks about the ripple effect of unhappiness in the workplace. He describes this discontent much as you would a virus, highlighting its contagious properties that, if left unchecked, could reduce team productivity. Hemant Kakkar, assistant professor of management and organisations at Duke University, US (Lufkin, 2021), calls this phenomenon has been coined “social contagion”.

DISCONTENT, BUSINESS AND EMPLOYEES

We know that the opinions and attitudes of those around us can sway moods and perceptions. But, just as motivated, cheerful and engaged employees can inspire, disgruntled workers can shape the workplace negatively, creating an environment where employees become unhappy with their work. In turn, this can lead to unhappiness in the workplace, or even a lack of employee engagement. These acts of discontent can be apparent and outspoken or more subversive, such as lying or stealing. Studies show that employees are more likely to engage in immoral acts if they work alongside others that commit such acts (Lufkin, 2021). Just as a good team building workshop can boost employee satisfaction, discontent can negatively affect this too. That is why it is essential to resolve any workplace conflicts and spot the signs of discontent early. We have designed this pamphlet as a guide with tips and tricks that you can immediately implement to try and prevent discontent in your workplace.  

SPOTTING THE SIGNS OF UNHAPPINESS IN THE WORKPLACE

Working from home isn’t a barrier to the spread, it can still lead to a lack of employee engagement. For example, if people don’t turn on their camera or answer questions – that can be a sign of disengagement. 

If you see people pulling out their laptops and doing all kinds of other work during a team meeting – that can be a sign of disengagement. Unhappy employees are less productive, and this can be one of the symptoms.

If mass quitting is taking place at your workplace. This speaks for itself – unhappy employees can end up looking for new jobs, in a phenomenon coined “turnover contagion“. 

PANDEK’S 5 TIPS TO AVOID UNHAPPINESS IN THE WORKPLACE

• Share a team vision – Ensure that staff are on the same journey together. Sharing a team vision means that they know where they are going and feel part of something.  
• Create an empowered work culture – Harbouring a positive work environment means that you can question people’s attitudes and behaviours in a healthy way.  
• Live the company values – Make values part of the conversation. This could involve incorporating them into the weekly team meeting, team communication, or even professional reviews. Similarly, try to continue to reference the company values and establish where they are being lived. For more on values, check out our other blog post!
• Create collaborative work – Interdepartmental projects are a fantastic way to ensure that organisations and teams are becoming cohesive. By working towards similar goals or targets, employees engage in teamwork that benefits the company and the office.
• Offer plenty of opportunities for feedback – Make sure employees feel they are part of the organisation so they feel motivated by the work. Ask your staff for their opinions where possible and act on feedback with immediate effect where possible.  

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