There is an important difference between a disengaged employee and someone who demonstrates persistent poor performance despite continued support. However, disengagement could actually be wreaking havoc in your business – the question is, are you recognising it?

So is your team with you? Some of your employees may not be as engaged with their work as you think.

Do you employ anyone who:

•               ‘Sleepwalks’ through their work

•               Does the basics and not much more

•               Will not do extra work without financial inducement

•               Opposes virtually everything in the workplace and undermines other colleagues’ positive attempts

•               Is unhappy and doesn’t care who knows

•               Produces poor quality work

•               Has inconsistent attendance (more sick days than average)

•               Claims that stress at work is responsible for all of their problems

•               Is unlikely to say positive things about your business

•               Is damaging team working and relationships.

If your answer to a number of these is ‘yes’, you may have a problem. Individual members of the team may be disengaged. Here’s why properly engaged employees have the power to add value to your team:

•               They take an average of 2.7 sick days a year; the disengaged ones take 6.2

•               70 per cent have a good understanding of how to meet customer needs. Only 17 per cent of disengaged employees can say the same

•               They are 87 per cent less likely to leave an organisation than the disengaged

•               Replacing an employee can cost as much as their annual salary; high turnover among disengaged employees is expensive

•               More are advocates for their organisation (67 per cent) against only three per cent of the disengaged

•               78 per cent would recommend their company’s products and services; only 13 per cent of disengaged employees would do the same.