I’ve been speaking a lot lately on an epidemic I call Disgruntled Worker Syndrome and its impact on workplace morale and employee engagement.
So what is Disgruntled Worker Syndrome? Here’s my definition:
Disgruntled Worker Syndrome – dɪsˈɡrʌn.t̬əld/ /ˈwɝː.kɚ/ sɪn.droʊm – noun
1. Someone who works in a particular job and is unhappy, annoyed, and/or disappointed about something and displays a type of negative behavior or mental state to express their dissatisfaction.
2. The display of chronic job related dissatisfaction directed at a specific person or group of people, compensation or career opportunities within the organization, and/or the organization itself.
Think about it, we all have at least one coworker that makes listening to The Smiths or Norah Jones feel up-lifting. They drain your energy and always have a complaint. In recent years this person is called toxic and we’re told to avoid them.
Butwhat are they really saying? I think they are really singing the tune “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”. These workers are labeled “toxic” but what they really have is Disgruntled Worker Syndrome. And this is often due to not feeling valued at work. It’s a frustration that can, if left unchecked” become a mental health issue and even spread throughout the workforce reducing morale and create more disgruntled workers. It’s a bit of a mob mentality really.
So how can Disgruntled Worker Syndrome be combated at work?
If you know someone who has it, ask them what is causing their dissatisfaction. It may be something as simple as listening and letting them get it off their chest because when we feel stuck we have a tendency to loop the problem over and over until we can find a solution. The more it loops the worse it gets because we get frustrated. and anxious that we can’t resolve it.
