Over the years, I have been employed at a variety of jobs in different fields. I gained a lot of experience, met good and bad employers and employees. Each company I worked for either enforced strict work policies or was too lenient and failed to implement policies that worked. I have heard several complaints from employees and have voiced my own. In this blog, I will specifically list 7 reasons why employees quit and some of the things that employers can do to avoid high turnover rates.
1. Scare Tactics
If an employee feels that they can do nothing right and always in fear of getting fired. There is no security in working for that company!! Employers have to stop creating a fear based environment with constant threats and warnings of being written up, demoted, or fired. This is to not say that employers shouldn’t have policies and standards in place. But instead should be careful in how they deliver these policies and to focus more on encouraging their employees and training them more effectively. I have worked for jobs, one just recently where the employees were afraid of the owner and always in fear of losing their jobs or getting in trouble. This creates a stressful work environment!!
2. Work Load
Employee burnout is a real problem that can occur if an employee feels they are taking on too many tasks, under too much pressure to meet deadlines, picking up the slack from another worker, and various other reasons. Employers must set realistic expectations, balance the work load and make sure the employee is supported and taking necessary breaks. I have met employees that are over worked, constantly complaining and frustrated when they come to work.
3. Employer Attitude
Employees don’t want to work for an employer that doesn’t see their value and is careless with their company. If an employer always has a bad attitude and doesn’t care to train, communicate or help its employees. Yet expects them to, this is a problem and one that unfortunately a lot of employees tolerate. No one wants to approach management in some cases because they are afraid and don’t want to lose their jobs. If your boss is always on edge and makes it clear they don’t like to be bothered. This sets a negative tone!! Employers need to make themselves available and set a presence that invites employees in. A lot of employees have quit jobs because of their employers attitude and if you have looked at any of the Yelp, Glassdoor and other review sites. Employees may mention how horrible their boss was and the attitudes they experienced.
4. Emergencies
Some employers hate when their employees call out sick or are facing any type of emergency. If an employee is legitimately sick or has an emergency, employers need to be understanding, sensitive and care more about the employees well being. I understand that in some cases, employees lie and have frequently called out just because they don’t feel like coming to work that day. However, I have met many employees that are really sick, in crisis and unable to make it to work. I have met employers that feel employees should never call out and should always be at work when they are sick, injured or facing an emergency. This is not healthy!! Your health and well being is most important and comes first.
5. Work Gossip
This can be an employee and employer problem, but worse when an employer becomes too personal with employees and engages in work gossip. Employers publicly bad mouthing their employees and discussing information that is confidential. Not only is illegal, but negatively reflects the company and is very unprofessional. I recently worked for a company where my co-worker talked negatively about the owner, employees and in the end went behind my back and lied to my agency about me. The owner and this co-worker pretended to like me, made me think I was doing a good job and had ulterior motives. I had gotten somewhat personal with this co-worker, so it was very hurtful. Employers should communicate concerns with the employee and give them a chance to correct or receive the training necessary.
6. Pay and Benefits
Employers sometimes go too cheap and do not provide their employees with proper pay and benefits. I met an owner of a company that never paid the employees on time, pay was very low, sometimes didn’t pay them at all and the checks would bounce. The employees were afraid to confront the owner and allowed this to keep happening. This is illegal, the employer must pay you on time and for the correct pay. Pay rate and benefits should always be discussed up front and be documented in the beginning. Another issue that employers are guilty of is, giving higher pay to less qualified or from what I have heard “non-educated” employees. In my opinion, non-educated employees can do just as good of a job than someone with an education or sometimes even better. However, there shouldn’t be discrimination based on education. I have met many college graduates who can’t find jobs or get much lower pay than their co-workers who don’t have the education or experience.
7. Bored
Employers are having to compete with other companies and keep up with the current job market and trends. However, many companies still fail to implement changes and are still stuck in old ways and thinking. And in some cases against their company making any new changes or accepting any new ideas. Many employees are bored and tired of having the same kind of donuts every Friday, same routine for the last 10 years, and no exciting changes or moves for the company. Growth and advancement is very important and employers are losing employees to other companies that are more attractive in pay, benefits, work culture and environment. Advancements in technology have created more jobs and experiences that employees seek and want to be a part of. I worked for one company that didn’t have enough work or tasks for employees to do, so there was a lot of downtime and boredom.
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