Cure Employee Negativity
Last week, CNET Network interviewed me for a podcast that will soon be available online – I will share the link when it’s posted. The topic was employee negativity and I am reminded that a large percentage of my reader email, the posts in “comments” on the site, and the questions people ask in the Forum are related to negative experiences at work. And, while I know they exist, negative workplaces are hard to understand in 2008.
The typical workplace has its ups and downs in terms of employee negativity. Many workplaces are trying to be employee oriented. But, even the most employee oriented workplace can shudder under the weight of negative thinking. When employers understand the causes of employee negativity and put in place measures to prevent employee negativity, negativity fails to gain a foothold in the work environment.
A couple of years ago, Towers Perrin and researchers Gang & Gang interviewed employees and discovered the five main causes of employee negativity:
- An excessive workload;
- Concerns about management’s ability to lead the company forward successfully;
- Anxiety about the future, particular longer-term job, income and retirement security;
- Lack of challenge in their work, with boredom intensifying existing frustration about workload; and
- Insufficient recognition for the level of contribution and effort provided, and concerns that pay isn’t commensurate with performance.
What causes negativity in your workplace?
More About Employee Negativity
- Tips for Minimizing Workplace Negativity.
- How to Deal With a Negative Coworker.
- Cures for Negativity.
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Comments
The last company I worked for had lots of negativity on the shop floor. This was because there were rumors going around that part of the plant was going to close. Our management held a huge plant meeting in response to this rumor and said that the shutdown was not going to happen. Well, a month later I was called to HR and told I was being laid off and that there was a secret plan to close a large part of the plant. Later 75 others lost their job. The fact we had so much negativity was due to the management lying to the workers about the state of the business, and the poor planning and management of the company.
Not only the excessive workload but alao less workload
Looks like Towers Perrin and researchers Gang & Gang missed the biggest cause of Employee Negtivity - the employees themselves.
Its terrible the way some people come to work and think its an extension of school-yard behaviour! He was mean to me! She ignored me! You’re mean!
People should grow up and do the work they are employed to do!
I’ve encountered employee negativity generated from their immediate superiors. Negativity is usually from Top down. If the management wants negativity to go away, It has to start with the Management themselves.