Wednesday, 06 September 2023 04:28 PM
Company Update
The DreamBoard Difference? Building Resilient, Optimistic Employees
PROVO, UT / ACCESSWIRE / September 6, 2023 / Over 50% of American employees can now be considered "quiet quitters"-they are disengaged at work and do only the bare minimum required, according to a recent Gallup survey. This quiet resignation epidemic signals a deeper issue of widespread burnout and poor mental health among the nation's workforce.
The reasons behind the quiet quitting phenomenon are multilayered, but much stems from employees feeling disillusioned, underappreciated, and exhausted. Grueling work hours, low wages, lack of work-life balance, and limited growth opportunities have pushed them to mentally check out.
According to the American Psychological Association, 37% of Americans rated their mental health as only fair or poor in 2022, up 6% from the previous year. Over a quarter said they anticipated more stress going into 2023. This deteriorating mental health directly feeds into quiet quitting, as burned out employees withdraw and do less to cope.
Experts say quiet quitting can become a vicious cycle. Disengaged employees produce lower quality work, which spurs micromanaging from leaders. This, in turn, further disillusions staff. What results is a downward spiral of resentment and minimal effort.
This silent resignation epidemic has real costs. Gallup estimates that poor engagement costs the U.S. $600 billion to $1 trillion annually in lost productivity. Furthermore, the cost of replacing an employee ranges from half to double their salary. With a recession looming, many experts say managers cannot afford to ignore this crisis of burnout and quiet quitting. They warn that now is the time for companies to take bold steps to regain employee passion and loyalty.
Firstly, leaders must prioritize mental health. The past few years have been marked by nonstop collective trauma, from COVID-19 to social unrest to economic instability. Offering counseling, wellness benefits, mental health days, and compassionate policies can help alleviate burnout.
Secondly, organizations need to actively listen to staff concerns. Conduct anonymous surveys to understand why employees feel disengaged, then take transparent steps to address those issues.
Thirdly, managers should empower staff and boost morale. Recognize achievements, offer praise, solicit input, provide upskilling opportunities. Employees who feel valued and invested in their work are far less likely to withdraw and resign.
Fourthly, evaluate policies around work-life balance and flexibility. With new norms around remote work, companies have a chance to rewrite old rules that maximized time behind desks over all else. Employees need to be able to take care of their lives outside of work.
Lastly, prioritize emotional intelligence training for all managers and executives. Many lack the skills to recognize signs of burnout before it's too late. They need to learn to be more empathetic, communicative, and in tune with mental health needs.
The truth is that no organization can thrive long term with an army of quiet quitters. Gallup's research shows that engaged employees have higher productivity, profitability, safety records, quality, and customer loyalty. They become brand ambassadors who give discretionary effort to their work.
Boosting employee engagement must become mission critical for every manager in America. Otherwise, this burnout epidemic will have cascading consequences, impacting the bottom lines of companies and the wellbeing of staff nationwide. Fortunately, there are experts like Michelle McCullough, founder of DreamBoard Media, who works with organizations to create a culture of happiness. By teaching leaders and employees skills to build resilience, emotional intelligence, and a sense of purpose, she helps reignite passion and creativity. The end result is more unified, supportive, and thriving workplaces where people feel valued as human beings, not just workers.
DreamBoard's customized workshops teach employees research-backed techniques to reduce stress, overcome adversity, and adopt a solutions-focused mindset. Participants leave feeling renewed passion for their roles and equipped with skills to combat burnout. The program has been called "life-changing" by many attendees.
With strategic effort and compassionate communication, leaders can stem the tide of quiet quitting. But it will require making employee mental health, work-life balance, and engagement top priorities now and into the future. By truly listening and implementing bold changes, companies can create cultures where people feel energized to bring their best selves to work each day. A happy, loyal workforce committed to a shared mission can become America's most valuable asset.
ABOUT DREAMBOARD MEDIA
DreamBoard Media is a boutique consulting agency that has helped over one hundred organizations shift the way they support their employees, teams, and indivduals to have increased resilience and feel more fulfilled at work. CEO Michelle McCullough leads DreamBoard as a seasoned speaker and former corporate trainer who teaches high performance and leadership strategies that boost employee engagement and retention. For more information, visit speakmichelle.com. For additional information, visit DreamBoard Media on Instagram or Twitter.
CONTACT
Michelle McCullough
801-592-1101
[email protected]
SOURCE: DreamBoard Media