When a valued employee decides to leave a business, it can have a major negative knock off effect to the company. Not only are workflows and team dynamics impacted and disrupted, but it means there’s a strain on resources and time until a suitable replacement is found.
Although some resignations can catch employers completely off guard, there are usually subtle signs that indicate an employee is considering leaving. It’s important to be proactive and be able to spot the signs early on. Recognising these signs earlier rather than later allows you to adequately address any underlying issues the employee may have and tackle them in the early stages, which hopefully can prevent a valuable team member from handing in their resignation.
1. Decreased Productivity and Engagement
A dip in productivity and engagement by an employee are clear signs of potential job dissatisfaction especially high-performing employees. This could suggest that they are mentally checking out before they physically decide to leave. As a result, motivation may be lost too, this can be due to numerous factors like company culture or frustrations within their role.
2. Withdrawal from Colleagues
If an employee that was once sociable and chatty, starts isolating themselves from their co-workers and becomes less collaborative in team activities, this could be a sign that they are emotionally disconnecting from the company and are going to leave.
3. Resistance to New Projects or Responsibilities
A sudden decline in enthusiasm and taking on new projects or responsibilities could be a sign of ‘quiet quitting’. This means an employee no longer sees a future in the company and starts to do the bare minimum. This results in them doing just enough to not get fired until they find something that sparks their interest again.
4. Lack of Interest in Professional Development
An employee turning down opportunities for training and skills development can suggest they are no longer interested in career advancement within the company. This means they have probably started their job search elsewhere and no longer see themselves staying long-term within the business.
5. Clearing out Personal Belongings
While this may seem very minuscule, an employee who starts removing their belongings and clearing out their desk could also indicate they are getting ready to leave the company.
6. Increased Absenteeism
If days off, in terms of sickness and annual leave, start piling up, this may suggest an employee is using up their time off before departing or is actively searching for new job opportunities and attending interviews elsewhere. While occasional absences are normal, a sudden increase should raise a red flag.
7. Frequent Job Searches or Networking
If you notice an employee spending an excessive amount of time on job boards or becoming more active on professional networking sites like LinkedIn during work hours, this could signal they’re increasing their online presence to open themselves up to the right opportunities.
8. Negative Attitude or Complaining
An increase in open complaints and critique of the company about management or working conditions can be a sign they are looking to resign, especially if the employee was previously content. This may stem from underlying dissatisfaction that could ultimately lead to their resignation.
9. Lack of Commitment to Long-Term Projects
An employee who still has genuine interest of continuing their tenure with the business would care about doing good work. When an employee starts avoiding or showing a lack of enthusiasm for projects that are more long term, it could be an indication that they don't plan on being with the company for that much longer.
10. Unexplained Changes in Behaviour or Attitude
Burnout or mental health struggles can impact an employee's behaviour or attitude towards their work or colleagues and when there is a sudden unexplained shift, it could be a sign that something significant is impacting their job satisfaction or commitment to the company.
These signs can be key indicators in helping managers which of their employees may be at risk of leaving the company. Taking a proactive approach and addressing these concerns while promoting a workplace environment that prioritises employee well-being, growth, and job satisfaction, you can potentially prevent valuable team members from slipping away.