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Nothing affects the employees and the organization more than workplace negativity. It drains energy and diverts the focus of the employees from their work. With time it creates disengagement, lowers productivity, and increases employee turnover. Moreover, it has a negative impact on their morale.
If you are an HR or a manager and feel that your workplace has become toxic or negative, then here are seven ways that you can consider to safeguard your organization from such issues.
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“A study conducted in 88 retail stores in Canada by professors from York University in Toronto and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver indicated that when employees feel trusted, they are more likely to perform better.”
Trust and respect are crucial building blocks for a healthy work environment. As a manager or an HR, show that you trust and respect your employees from the day you hire them. On the other hand, when employees feel that they have to earn your trust and prove themselves, it creates a sense of cut-throat competition amongst the employees. When competition becomes unhealthy, it creates a negative work environment.
In organizations where the element of trusts exists, it leads to the creation of a healthy and friendly work environment and reduces workplace negativity.
“As per research, 70% of employees complain of not having enough autonomy or control over their job role.”
Often managers, supervisors, and organizations tend to micromanage their employees. They end up deciding on their employee’s behalf without taking their inputs or consulting them. It leads to a sense of distrust and negativity between the employee and the organization. So to avoid this and reduce workplace negativity, employees should be trusted with their job roles and allowed to make their own decisions. This gives employees an opportunity to learn and gain confidence, even if they make mistakes.
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Employees, at times, know more about the company than their HRs and managers might think. But often, their opinions and suggestions are ignored and not taken into consideration. When their opinions and thoughts are not valued, they feel oppressed. It results in a negative work environment.
As an HR manager, create a platform for your employees so that they can express themselves freely. Develop simple surveys so that they can express their opinions on work hours, salary, dress codes, working conditions, or other factors that impact their work. It will make the employees feel that the organization not only cares about the work but also about them. This will help in the creation of a happy and positive work environment where everyone is free to express their concerns and opinions.
Partiality and biases are quite common in the workplace. Managers and supervisors are biased toward their employees knowingly or unknowingly. But to avoid unhealthy and unwanted competition, HRs and managers should avoid any act of favoritism at all costs. Every employee should be given equal work opportunity and responsibility irrespective of their caste, creed, sex, religion, or orientation. This will ensure that the organization strictly follows labor laws and company policies.
Also Read: Want To Know Why Your Employees Leave? Here’s Why
As a manager or a leader, if you overhear negative conversations, avoid being a part of them. Steer away from the negative conversation to something positive that is more useful and valuable for everyone. When negative conversations and topics are encouraged, they spread like wildfire and affect everyone working in the organization.
Employees, when overloaded with work, become stressed, anxious, and disengaged. It results in a decrease in their productivity, lowers their morale, and affects their physical and mental health. It makes them grumpy and makes them have a negative outlook towards their work. To avoid this, leaders and managers should set realistic and achievable goals and monitor their employee’s progress. They should avoid their employees from burning out and motivate them whenever possible.
Make sure you reward and recognize your employees for their achievements. This makes them feel that their contribution is valued, and it will encourage them to perform better. It helps in giving a boost to their morale and has a positive impact on their productivity. Moreover, it drives employee engagement and retention. Employees work harder with greater dedication for rewards and recognition. They will have a positive outlook on the organization’s future and helps in creating a healthy work culture and reduce workplace negativity.
A simple “Thank You” or “You did a great job!” does a great job in making your employees feel appreciated.
Also Read: Employee Rewards and Recognition During COVID-19
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