6 Things Employees Really Hate at Work

According to research by Gallup, roughly 70 percent of employees are unhappy with their job. That means that only three out of every ten workers are happy, while the overwhelming majority, are less than satisfied.

This is unfortunate since the way an employee feels about their job will have a significant impact on their lives –and their resulting work. Employees that are unhappy, often lead to dissatisfied customers, which can have a significant impact on a company’s bottom line. Workers who are unhappy will also be less productive, will lack motivation, and tend to have poor engagement as well. Some studies even indicate that unhappy employees are also more susceptible to illness. Perhaps most obviously, unhappy workers will also be more likely to quit as soon as they get the chance.

If you’re an employer, or manager –then you’ll want to do everything that you can to create a great work environment for your team, one that will help to keep worker satisfaction high. It costs an estimated $4000 on average to replace a worker, so it’s worth investing in ways to improve worker satisfaction, and ultimately, retention rates as well.

With this in mind, here’s a look at some of the most common complaints that workers have about their workplace, and see how you can address some of these issues, to keep your team happier, for longer.

1.Poor Communication

Poor communication is an issue that plagues many workplaces; either a lack of communication, or poor communication in general. For employees and those in managerial positions, it’s important to streamline and improve communication whenever possible. Look to keep the lines of communication open, and ensure that your team is clear on their work, and what’s expected of them. Always provide them with the information that they need to do their jobs properly. You’ll also want to consider doing away with pointless meetings that many workers consider to be a waste of time. Consider using email, or quick in-person chats whenever possible.

2.No Room to Grow

Working at a job that offers few prospects for advancement will eventually leave most motivated employees frustrated –and looking for new employment. No employee likes to be held back, and most are looking to develop their career and expand their skillset –and will want a workplace that will offer them opportunities to grow.

3.A Lack of Leadership

According to a survey by Tolero Solutions, 65 percent of job-hunters surveyed cited poor leadership as the number one reason that they were looking for a new job. Poor leadership, or lack of direction in a company is not only frustrating, it’s also discouraging for your team. Having good, solid leadership is important for worker satisfaction, as well as for a company’s continued success.

4.Favoritism

Playing favorites, no matter how trivial it may seem is always a dangerous move –and one that will cause strife between employees, and contribute to a hostile environment. To avoid creating the appearance of favoritism, be sure to that your reward your team equally and fairly for their work, and ensure that any disciplinary action is also consistent. Avoid singling out one worker as an example for the others to follow –it will only lead to resentment between coworkers.

5.Micromanagement

While there is nothing wrong with a boss who is actively involved, for most workers, few things are more frustrating than being micromanaged. A micromanaging boss shows distrust and belittles employees by assuming they can’t handle the position that they were hired for. Instead, give your trusted employees the freedom to excel in their roles –their results will speak for themselves.

6.Under appreciation

It’s no surprise that when an employee feels underappreciated at work, they’ll have more frustration and less satisfaction. A simple ‘thank you’ can go a long way towards showing an employee that they are valued. Likewise, acknowledging your team, and giving credit where credit is due can help them to feel appreciated.

Finally, while there are a number of things that could make employees unhappy, if you suspect that worker satisfaction is low the best way to get to the bottom of things is by asking your team. Be open, and ensure that your employees know that they’re always welcome to talk to you about any issues that arise, or if they have an idea for improving something. By maintaining open lines of communication, you’ll be able to benefit from constructive feedback, and will have the chance to take action to correct issues that arise –before they become worse or spiral out of control.