by Lori Buttermark

Created on: August 27, 2009   Last Updated: October 20, 2010

Employers are not psychic, but when they find themselves falling off the radar because of an unproductive staff, it is a wakeup call that one or several weak links are disrupting the workforce; hence, whether an isolated event or widespread within the department, the situation must be taken in hand immediately.

Rewinding back to the interview and hiring process, the Employer often makes the mistake of searching for the successful candidate who is the entire package, a rare commodity in itself and virtually impossible to find.  Each employee represents a cog in the wheel of progress and brings individuality which adds to the success of the organization. 

In the wake of chaos or deadlines, the most structured management will find major concerns falling between the cracks. Priority projects are not completed within set deadlines; thus resulting in loss of major accounts. These occurrences need to be nipped in the bud permanently.

Re-grouping and/or re-evaluating staffing needs are often the key to a more productive department or organization. Whether by request or involuntary, employees might  find themselves automatically transferred to another area because their skills are better utilized elsewhere; hence, the new workload becomes more attractive and a more contented employee now produces better results.

Another major concern is the employee with small children and how they are cared for during work hours? Until a flexible program for day care is implemented by the company, the Employer looks for someone who is fully committed to the job and not running off mid-day for family emergencies.

A too lenient Management oftens sends mixed signals. Over a period of time, defiant employees are monitored and documented as hanging out in the hallways, rest rooms or visiting fellow coworkers' cubicals, disrupting the productive employee with idle chatter.

Management meets with these offenders, reminding them that the "play hard" policy has been severely abused and turned into an amusement park, leaving the "work hard" segment totally ignored and violated. The verbal warning is given to "step up" or be prepared for unpleasant consequences.

Given the economy, downsizing becomes inevitable, the organizational "housecleaning" now weeds 'n' seeds the garden of ill-productivity. Valuable employees survive the storm and remain on board.

New incentives now include:

*Affordable Day Care Program for employees with children. This gives them peace of mind and puts them at their productive best on the job

*Bonus days off with pay for perfect attendance within an allocated time-frame

*Employee of the Month Recognition for highest production

*Every Friday - free lunch

*Free Turkey at Thanksgiving

Management must remember that humans feed on incentive and positive energy. Children are rewarded with gold or silver stars for complete and correct homework. Parents reward children for a good report card.

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