Case Analysis on Low Morale in the Workplace
THE ISSUE OF
LOW MORALE IN THE WORKPLACE
Prepared for Jack Smith
Radar Systems Flight Chief
Ogden ALC
Prepared by
Mary White
Program Manager
Radar Systems Section
Ogden ALC
February 27, 2011
THE ISSUE OF
LOW MORALE IN THE WORKPLACE
INTRODUCTION
For the majority of the employed population, the workplace can be a daunting environment. There are many factors that contribute to this negative experience including difficult coworkers, lack of appreciation, confined working quarters, long work hours, etc. These factors are the underlying causes of low morale in the workplace. Low morale can have devastating consequences to productivity and work ethic, and therefore must be properly evaluated for possible solutions.
Morale is more than people just being happy and eager to work. It is an entire thought process that leaves people feeling appreciated and fulfilled in what they do every day. According to The Free Dictionary, morale can be defined as “the state of the spirits of a person or group as exhibited by confidence, cheerfulness, discipline, and willingness to perform assigned tasks; or the degree of mental or moral confidence of a person or group; spirit of optimism.” These definitions both use some of the same keywords such as group of people and willingness to perform tasks. These factors can be detrimental to mission success, which is why low morale is not something to be taken lightly. It is unrealistic to expect that people are always going to enjoy what they’re doing and not encounter any setbacks. It is when there is a constant feeling of getting nowhere, being underappreciated, and not having the tools to do the job that morale can be affected.
The purpose of this report is to analyze the causes of low morale in the workplace, and to hopefully implement solutions to improve morale in our section. First I will explain why morale is so important in a work environment, and what some of the signs of low morale can be. Next, I will use statistics from
LOW MORALE IN THE WORKPLACE
Prepared for Jack Smith
Radar Systems Flight Chief
Ogden ALC
Prepared by
Mary White
Program Manager
Radar Systems Section
Ogden ALC
February 27, 2011
THE ISSUE OF
LOW MORALE IN THE WORKPLACE
INTRODUCTION
For the majority of the employed population, the workplace can be a daunting environment. There are many factors that contribute to this negative experience including difficult coworkers, lack of appreciation, confined working quarters, long work hours, etc. These factors are the underlying causes of low morale in the workplace. Low morale can have devastating consequences to productivity and work ethic, and therefore must be properly evaluated for possible solutions.
Morale is more than people just being happy and eager to work. It is an entire thought process that leaves people feeling appreciated and fulfilled in what they do every day. According to The Free Dictionary, morale can be defined as “the state of the spirits of a person or group as exhibited by confidence, cheerfulness, discipline, and willingness to perform assigned tasks; or the degree of mental or moral confidence of a person or group; spirit of optimism.” These definitions both use some of the same keywords such as group of people and willingness to perform tasks. These factors can be detrimental to mission success, which is why low morale is not something to be taken lightly. It is unrealistic to expect that people are always going to enjoy what they’re doing and not encounter any setbacks. It is when there is a constant feeling of getting nowhere, being underappreciated, and not having the tools to do the job that morale can be affected.
The purpose of this report is to analyze the causes of low morale in the workplace, and to hopefully implement solutions to improve morale in our section. First I will explain why morale is so important in a work environment, and what some of the signs of low morale can be. Next, I will use statistics from
Cited: Fink, Nicole. “The High Cost of Low Morale: How to Address Low Morale in the Workplace through Servant Leadership.” The Leading Edge, Retrieved Feb. 2011. <http://www.roberts.edu/Academics/AcademicDivisions/BusinessManagement/msl/Community/Journal/TheHighCostofLowMorale.htm> Garner, Robert. “How to Improve Employee Morale.” Steps to Success. Retrieved Feb 2011. <www.humannatureatwork.com/employee-morale-article-3-partII.htm> “Morale Boosters That Work.” Find Articles.com. 2008. Retrieved Feb 2011. <findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IBP/is.../ai_110458539/> Rothberg, Deborah. “HR Execs: Lousy Leadership Is Leading Cause of Low Morale.” CIO Insight. 2006. Retrieved Feb. 2011. <http://www.cioinsight.com/c/a/Past-News/HR-Execs-Lousy-Leadership-Is-Leading-Cause-of-Low-Morale/> Rowden, April. “Air Force Climate Survey yields insights.” AF.mil. Retrieved Feb 2011. <http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123138464>