Employees are conscious of the level of organizational quality in the workplace, making a healthy and productive work environment important. As a result of the “Great Resignation” though, more than 20 million workers left their jobs creating a major shortage in the workforce. Many employers are baffled with how to retain employees or the next steps to ensure a good employee experience.

Taking the Temperature

Organizational temperature checks are key in this process. They help determine the quality of the employee experience through verbal or written surveys that measure employee satisfaction with the leadership, work environment, roles and responsibilities. Ideally, leaders should always seek ways of assessing the situation of the company. Turning a blind eye can lead to serious consequences such as decline in profits, unresolved work issues or losing a key player that holds the operation together.

There are no shortcuts in gaining full awareness on how to gage the temperature of an organization. Finding common themes will, in fact, pinpoint the root of dissatisfaction. Once discovered, it is important to act quickly.

Take a deeper dive into the structure of your organization with the July Coffee Talk, “Organizational Temperature Checks are the Key to Employee Retention.” Click here to register today!

Consequences of a negative organizational temperature can be devastating. Employees are likely to become less productive, take more time off and lack motivation in carrying out their everyday tasks. More and more workers will erupt around the water cooler, complaining about feeling stuck or discussing their potential escape plans.

Warning Signs

Early warning signs that organizational climate is declining include:

  • Unresolved disagreements that create negative energy instead of fostering consensus and cooperation among employees
  • A work environment that thrives on conflict, breeds mistrust and is divided by toxic cliques
  • Leadership that does not invest in the quality of their people with professional development or providing internal resources to ensure the success of their employee
  • A sudden increase in employee turnover that creates a culture of insecurity and uncertainty about the future of the company

After reviewing the warning signs that organizational climate may be declining, leaders should consider the status of what is happening with employees, the work environment or the more deeply embedded culture. Employers should consider immediate steps they can take to improve the employee experience and if they are willing to address failing conditions in your workforce. In the end, it is more manageable to meet the needs of an existing workforce rather than to fill a vacancy. The key is to retain the great employees that are already in place.