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Easy Small Business HR 1
Disgruntled Employees
- Warning Signs
& Protection Strategies
Special Report From: EasySmallBusinessHR.com
The actions of angry employees are more than just news stories.
From stealing sensitive information and compromising data to
vandalizing the workplace and, at worst, committing violent acts,
having angry employees are a reality that small business owners
face every day.
One way to protect your business from the actions of disgruntled
workers is to know the signs that could indicate potential trouble.
The 6 Signs of Dissatisfied Employees
1. Chronic absenteeism
2. Raising the voice frequently
Easy Small Business HR 2
3. Depression
4. Unusual impatience
5. Increased irritability
6. Memory or concentration problems
Identifying the signs of unhappy employees is just one part of a
strategy to protect yourself, your staff, and your customers.
Of course you want to protect the staff and others from potential
physical harm, but having a strategy for dealing with dissatisfied
employees will also help boost staff morale, eliminating one of the
reasons for employee turnover. Here’s how to get started:
Don't ignore unusual or inappropriate behavior by an employee.
Take action by speaking with your employee to learn what might
be troubling him or her. If you don't feel comfortable meeting with
the employee alone, have another manager in the room with you or
ask security to be nearby; in another office perhaps if it helps you
to feel more comfortable.
When meeting with the staff member, be empathetic when
listening to your employee's concerns, but also be firm and clear
that certain behaviors will not be tolerated in the workplace.
In very extreme cases where an employee is clearly violent or
threatening, don't second guess and put your safety or the safety of
others at risk. Contact security or the police if appropriate.
Easy Small Business HR 3
Other best practices in support of a secure workplace include:
Reviewing the physical integrity of the workplace.
Ensure doors, windows, and other entry/exit points are secured
and the locks work.
Encourage employees to report broken locks on doors and
windows.
Check that entry/exit points cannot be easily propped open or
otherwise tampered with.
Adopt security measures that guarantee the personal safety of
all staff inside and outside the premises.
Provide necessary safeguards for valuable objects, belongings,
and information.
Make sure the workplace has adequate lighting inside and
outside.
Ensure that common trouble spots, such as reception areas,
restrooms, garages, and elevators, are secure.
Protect sensitive and confidential information to prevent
security breaches from unhappy employees inside or outside
the workplace.
Easy Small Business HR 4
Adopt a formal document destruction policy.
Reduce your workplace’s vulnerability to disruption and violence
by formalizing a comprehensive violence prevention program.
Your policy for dealing with angry employees should include:
Taking steps to ensure your company’s violence policy is
supported by the entire organization, from the interns to the C-
suite. In addition, include the policy in your company’s employee
handbook.
Don’t wait until an angry employee disrupts your business or
harms a colleague.
Know the signs of dissatisfied employees and have the strategies in
place to ensure the physical integrity of your workplace and the
security of your employees. You owe it to yourself and to your
staff.