If we’re lucky enough to hire the best people, most of our employees start off engaged and enthusiastic  about life at their new company. Many factors can contribute to them keeping that attitude, but many factors can also lead to opposite results. If you get the feeling your previously engaged employees are fading, here are a few signs to help you spot trouble areas.

1. Withdrawal

Do you notice one of your go-getter employees is suddenly withdrawing from meetings, not pitching in ideas like he used to or calling in sick more often? This could be a sign that your employee’s morale is dipping or he may not be feeling appreciated.

2. Oppositional

Do you have an employee who regularly cuts down her coworkers’ efforts or constantly opposes suggestions or efforts? This could be a sign of stress within the workplace, which can lead to lower morale and productivity for everyone and can ultimately damage workplace atmosphere.

3. Undermining

Do you have an employee who refuses to work in a team setting or undermines their fellow teammates? This could be a sign he is disgruntled with the company, his boss or another employee, which can lead to strained working relationships.

4. Apathy

Do you have an employee who has stopped caring about the company or whether or not she succeeds in her position? This could be a sign she is stressed at work or at home, or may feel underappreciated.

Any of these factors alone, or combined, should send up red flags to managers that their employees are being negatively engaged. It’s important to get to the root of the problem and find out why the employee feels stressed or underappreciated. By figuring out what the problem is, you can help get them back to that enthusiastically engaged attitude.

Information taken from the article “Signs and Symptoms of Negative Employee Engagement” by Mary Ylisela, Demand Media.