How many of your team are off sick today? Or is there a team issue?

Is the duvet day a sign of a bigger problem in your organisation?

This problem isn't a new one.  We are at the end of the summer holidays, after a three day weekend and coming into work on Tuesday to a set of emails saying “I'm not very well, I'm not coming in today” is not unusual. You were probably expecting it. 

But is there a wider problem at hand? 

Are they genuinely sick? 

People get ill all the time - but when somebody is overstressed, overworked, and under a lot of pressure their adrenal system can go into overdrive. 

Three days off means they will have relaxed and that likely that their once-exhausted adrenals have relaxed a bit too.  Their immune system becomes vulnerable and they become sick. 

If they are ill, were they overworked and stressed in the first place? 

Were they out partying too much and have a hangover? Or do they have extra Sunday night blues? 

Did they simply wake up this morning and think “I just can't be bothered to go in”

This isn't a question of ‘quiet quitting’. Is their lack of motivation symptomatic of a wider problem? 

(The idea of quiet quitting actually makes me really uncomfortable. Why is it so ingrained in our culture that everyone has to go the ‘extra mile’, the hustle culture means you are successful.  It doesn’t and burnout is not pretty.

People should be motivated to work productively, and not need to be beaten with a stick if they are not working late, skipping lunch and never seeing their families.)

What could actually be wrong?

Is it old fashioned employee engagement?

Here are some factors to consider:

• Are they clear on the company's mission and vision as well as their own motivations for being there? If they hit the snooze button - the chances are they are disengaged. 

• Do they feel that their contribution is valued? Do they see that they are integral to the success of the team, or did they think ‘No-one will even notice I’m missing if I just don’t bother today, all of my work can wait’

• Are there team issues? Are there conflicts within the workplace that you may not be aware of? Do they feel psychologically safe to show up for work? 

• Are they flat out and just haven't got the energy anymore? Especially those with children who've had to navigate the summer holidays as well.

All of these could be indicators that there is a much wider problem within the team or the organisation. 

Are you alright Jack?

You may be reading this feeling very smug that your whole team was at their desk bright and early today?

But are they doing any work? Or are they there because they feel like they need to be?

Has the fear of losing their jobs during a recession started to kick in? 

Is there presenteeism at play here?

Having a look past the “it's the Tuesday after a bank holiday. I was expecting this” to understand where your employees may be struggling, where there may be a wider problem at hand?

This can make a huge impact on the growth and sustainability of your business.

How do you start doing this? 

1.     Ask them. 

Have a quiet friendly supportive conversation from those people who were off ill. How are you? How are you feeling? Or when did that come on? 

You're not interrogating them. You are putting your Spidey Senses out to find out if there is something else going on. Simply asking somebody if they're okay can open up a conversation that gives so much more information about problems at home, that you may be able to help support with. Problems in the office trouble and team that you definitely need to be addressing.

2. Ask the team. 

Look for ways to do some snap pulse surveys. 

• How are you feeling at the moment? 

• How motivated are you? 

• What pressures are you feeling outside work that may be bringing maybe coming into work 

• Ask them how clear they are on why they show up for work every day.

3. Check in on workloads 

Look where people are either overstretched or possibly not stretched enough and looking for ways to make themselves look busy. Whilst they may be looking for another job. 

4. Look at yourself

Are you exhausted too? Are you going through the motions? Have you lost sight of the bigger picture? You won’t want to hear this, but your lack of energy may be impacting the morale and vision of the team. Take some time to get headspace - either on your own with your OOO on, or with your team to relook at the wider picture. 

If you'd like some help auditing this process or if you'd like some help understanding how to motivate your team, or understand how you can all work together in harmony then please do get in touch.