Tell if an Employee Is Looking for a New Job
The golden days of staying with a company for 30 years to get a shiny gold watch upon retirement are long gone. Employees are job hopping more than ever. Studies have shown 75% of the demand for new employees is to replace workers that have resigned. Here are some signs an employee is looking for another job.
Steps
- Keep an eye out for decreased productivity. Work assignments not being completed in a timely fashion, unreturned voicemails or emails, and lack of initiative to take on new projects could be indications an employee is no longer committed to the job.
- Monitor your employee's need for sick days: When “fake” coughs become more frequent, this should be a red flag for an employer. While employers can not deny sick days or ask employees to report to work, they should be aware if patterns are forming. An employee could be using sick time to interview. Eric Neely, a hiring manager, has had his share of turnover in his career, “I once had an employee call in sick three days in a row with a bad case of the stomach flu. On the fourth day he resigned via phone. He had accepted a position with another company. Needless to say, the entire office felt a little sick from his actions.”
- Watch how your employee dresses. If business casual attire becomes strictly business attire, you may be looking at a person going to an interview. When asked why he or she is dressed up, the reply is something like: “Didn’t get around to laundry this week.” A typical interview last between 45 minutes to an hour. If the suspicious employee combines the Navy suit with a long lunch or doctor’s appointment there is a 90% chance he is looking for another job.
- Be aware of increased internet usage According to a study of Internet usage at work by Burst! Media, 32.3% of men between the ages of 25 and 34 said they spend three or more hours a day on the Internet at work. If every time you walk by an employee’s cube they either quickly block the computer screen with their body or minimize the page they were viewing, there is a good chance they want to avoid you seeing the monster.com homepage.
- Listen for complaints about the job. This is a no-brainer. If an employee constantly complains about co-workers, their job responsibilities, and having to come to work Monday-Friday, there is a good chance they do not see themselves with the company for a long time.
- Watch for the employee who is constantly checking his/her cell phone, or going outside the building to make or answer calls. This doesn't necessarily indicate they are job-searching, but could be a strong possibility.
Tips
- Losing employees cost companies millions of dollars every year. Personnel experts estimate that every departing employee costs a company 1.5 times his or her salary. In order to keep turnover expenses low encourage your employees to feel comfortable talking to you about issues or concerns, ensure salaries are competitive, and make sure employees feel challenged and appreciated. The time you spend nurturing an employee can save your company money in the long term. It has been said your best employee is the one that quits.
- Keep in mind that some turnover is good for your company. You don't want to have the same employees in your company for a long period of time, as there is a decreased inflow of fresh, new ideas.
