They’re disengaged
If you have been noticing your employees are no longer engaged in their work or there has been a decrease in their passion to contribute to the practice, it could be a sign they may be planning to leave. Employees who are disengaged are often uninterested and unenthusiastic about their work, they are no longer going above and beyond and merely doing that bare minimum to get the job done. They may start to show up late for their shift or call in sick more often.
Try and have an open and honest conversation with your team member if you start to notice this behaviour. You may be able to pinpoint and address what could be causing these late starts, or their lack of passion.
They’re not meeting their goals
Having clear goals in a workplace is essential for your team. If employees suddenly stop meeting their goals or you notice their performance is starting to decline, it may be a sign they’re no longer motivated in their role. This could be due to a number of reasons, such as a change in their responsibilities or maybe they are no longer feeling challenged in their role.
If you notice an employee is no longer meeting their goals, discuss the challenges they are facing in their role or even what could make their role more challenging.
They’re isolating themselves
In the veterinary profession, we all rely significantly on our team working as a whole. If employees start to isolate themselves from the practice and the team, it could be a sign they’re planning to leave. Employees who are thinking about quitting may start to take fewer breaks with co-workers, eat lunch alone and not in the staff break room, and avoid after-work social gatherings.
So if you see an employee is isolating themselves, try to include them more in company activities and encourage them to take breaks with the team.
They’re making less of an effort
If you notice employees are making less of an effort at work, it may be a sign they’re planning to quit. This could include coming in late or leaving early, paying less attention to patients, taking longer lunches, or not completing tasks on time.
These behaviours are important to recognise, so if you notice any of your team making less of an effort, talk to them about their work habits and see if there is anything you can do to help them be more productive.
They’re looking for a job elsewhere
Employees that are looking for a job elsewhere are a clear sign they’re planning to leave. You may notice they have updated their LinkedIn profile or started browsing Kookaburra, they are taking unexpected time off for job interviews, or they are talking to other practices about employment opportunities.
Even if it’s clear that your employee is looking for a job elsewhere, try to have a conversation with them about their future career plans and see if there is anything you can offer to keep them at your practice.
How can you stop your team from quietly quitting?
If you notice any of these signs with your team members, it’s important to take action. Try to have conversations with your employee to see what is causing their disengagement or lack of motivation. There may be something you can do to help them feel more engaged in their work, make them feel more challenged or more a part of the practice. However, if a staff member is clearly not happy in their role, it may be time to let them go.
By taking these steps and discussing them openly with your employees, you can help prevent your team from quietly quitting and improve employee retention at your practice. Alternatively, consider value-adds to your team members through actions like introducing a workplace fitness program or helping them to achieve a healthy work-life balance! Making these differences could have a significant impact on your team and create a workplace that helps them feel valued.
