Once upon a time, your employees were highly engaged. Their motivation and drive impressed you every day, and they always seemed genuinely happy to be at work — but something has shifted.
If your staffers are exhibiting these seven signs, they’re planning an exit strategy:
1. Decrease in Productivity
When employees start to slack, it’s clear they’re no longer trying to impress you. If tasks that used to take a few hours to complete are now stretched out for the entire day, something is amiss.
Related: Five Tips to Increase Employee Productivity and Output
2. Lower Quality Output
Your accounting and finance professionals used to submit flawless reports, but these days they’re filled with errors — this is no coincidence. Employees who no longer take pride in their work are already mentally checked out.
3. Poor Attendance
Job interviews typically take place during standard work hours. If your workers have been showing up late or leaving early — dressed especially nice — this may be what they’re up to. Oftentimes candidates don’t get the call until the day before, so a surge in last-minute requests for vacation days is a likely job interview.
4. Drop in Participation
If your staff meetings used to be filled with lively discussion, but now you hear crickets, it’s probably because your team doesn’t care anymore. They’re not interested in finding ways to help the company cut costs or convince you to buy a new software package because they’re halfway to the door.
5. Distance From the Group
Your team is a tight-knit group, so it’s definitely a warning sign when one person separates from the pack. There’s always a reason when someone stops going to lunches, team-building activities, and/or happy hours with everyone else.
6. Notably Discontent
Bad attitudes are synonymous with job dissatisfaction. If formerly pleasant, upbeat staffers are now crabby, pessimistic and impossible to please, they’re probably doing everything in their power to find a new position elsewhere.
7. No Desire to Discuss Long-Term Projects
Employees planning to quit their jobs couldn’t care less about a project that will take months to finish because they don’t plan to be part of the company at completion. When it’s hard to engage team members about the future, this is a sign your organization isn’t part of their plan.
What to Do If Your Team Is Plotting Their Exit Strategy
If many — or all — of the signs above perfectly describe the current state of your team, it’s time to jump into damage control mode. Things certainly aren’t looking good right now, but with some quick thinking, you can change their minds. Address the situation head-on, explaining you know they’re not happy and you want to change that.
Learn More: 5 Tips to Improve Employee Retention Rates
Find out what you can do to please them, and prove you’re serious by instituting an immediate shift. When your team sees the measures you’re taking to make things right, they’ll rethink their desire to leave.
Need a little help finding or retaining top accounting and finance talent? Partner with Sparks Group. Our comprehensive and flexible staffing solutions have earned us a consistent record of client satisfaction.
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