For Employer

5 Tell Tale Signs That an Employee May Be Thinking About Leaving

Karina

November 14 • 4 min read

Building a powerhouse team for your business is no laughing matter. Hiring employees that best suit your standards takes time and patience to complete. So after all that hard work and stress, the last thing an employer wants is to lose a valued member of the team. Most bosses are often caught off guard when one of their team members decides to quit. So before you get into this nerve-racking situation, here are 5 signs to watch out for when someone is about to quit their job.

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1. They avoid doing social interactions.

If a usually outgoing or vocal worker is now distant and is uncharacteristically silent, chances are he/she is contemplating on leaving. The employee begins to spend less time with colleagues and tries to avoid interacting with the boss as much as possible. A change in your employee’s social habits is a good warning sign.

2. They show less interest in work related discussions.

Offering fewer contributions than usual during meetings is a signal that your employee maybe ready to leave the ship. A decline in participation in discussions is a tell tale sign that they might be thinking that their ideas and feedback could be better used elsewhere.

3. No longer punctual as usual.

If an employee constantly comes in late and is going home earlier than usual, shows that he/she is not looking forward to working anymore and is planning on quitting soon.

4. They start taking more time off from work.

If they begin calling in sick more often or are using up their vacation leave periodically might mean they are no longer interested in doing work or probably using their time off looking for other employment options.

5. They no longer go beyond the call of duty.

Willingly taking on challenges is what separates good employees from great ones. So if a usual go-getter personality becomes more passive, chances are they are tired and ready to move on.

Should you intervene?

The last thing you want to do is to jump into conclusions and accuse your employee of wanting to jump ship. If it turns out to be untrue, then that puts a strain in your working relationship. Instead, try to open up a dialogue and find out what’s going on so you can better address the situation. Show that you are actually concerned for their wellbeing and not just their working habits. If the employee ultimately ends up quitting despite your best efforts, then it is best to always be prepared so both parties will have a smooth transition.