Employee Disengagement or Low Morale?

Short article # 28

Is there a difference in disengagement and low morale? Perhaps, as author Terry Kabachnick asserts in her book, I Quit But Forgot To Tell You.

Low morale is not disengagement. Low morale occurs when an employee gets frustrated with the work load, the work environment or their supervisor. Disengagement occurs when an employee ceases to care, ie. Their heart’s just not in it anymore…!

How bad is disengagement? A Gallup poll a few years ago revealed that 74% of American workers admit to being disengaged, this costs U.S. organizations $350 billion annually in lost productivity.

What are some of the signs of disengagement?

Lack of involvement, the employee won’t speak up in meetings, won’t participate in office events
Increased tardiness or use of sick days, etcetera
Increased complaining, especially from those who don’t usually complain
Sloppy work, they can do the work fine—they just don’t choose to do it at a level you know they’re capable of
“What’s the use” attitude coming through in their work or in their interactions
Asking for a higher increase right after being given an increase
The employee drops the ball on important work deadlines, repeatedly

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