As one of the leading staffing agencies in Sacramento, California, Pacific Staffing has heard about all kinds of wacky behavior from bosses that causes people to leave – from timing bathroom breaks to frowning upon vacation time. While these managers may be putting their foots down in the short term, they’re also playing a big part in increasing turnover.

What other behaviors do employees hate that cause them to leave? Here’s a look at 5:

Reason #1: You’re Not a Good Listener

An employee comes to your office to talk privately about a serious issue. You, in turn, keep looking at your computer and texting on your cell phone. You tell them to “hold that thought,” while you attempt to multi-task.

If you really want employees to turn to you with questions, concerns, feedback and ideas (which you should!), then you need to give them your undivided attention. Put away the phone, look them in the eye, and really listen to what they are saying.

Reason #2: You Have a Bad Attitude

You complain about your staff, your temper flares often, and you set unrealistic expectations on a regular basis. This kind of attitude is never justified in a workplace setting. Not only is it going to spread to the rest of your staff, but not many of them are going to stick around to see if your attitude ever changes. Who wants to work in a toxic environment?

Reason #3: You Gossip About Others

Nothing says “immature” quite like a boss who gossips about others. Not only that, but sharing information or trashing staff or customers when they’re not around is only going to make your people lose respect for you. And if your team members don’t respect you, then how can you effectively lead them.

Reason #4: You Buck Responsibility

At the end of the day, you are responsible for the results your team delivers. If those results are less than stellar, don’t throw your team under the bus.

As a leader you need to accept responsibility for events happening on your watch. It might be tempting to blame a person or situation, but you’ll only harm your credibility among your team when you do. Your employees are watching; how you react to challenging situations will define how they view you.

Reason #5: You Don’t Reward Good Results 

You depend on your employees to get the work done; and yet, when the do – and deliver great results – you don’t reward or recognize them in any way. While you shouldn’t be constantly praising and rewarding (you’ll diminish its effectiveness if you do), you should pay attention to people who do exceptional work and let them know you appreciate it.

No manager is perfect. But if you avoid the above bad boss behaviors, you’ll be well on your way to improving retention and building a strong team.

Need help finding great people for your team? Call Pacific Staffing. As one of the leading staffing agencies in Sacramento, California, we have 25 years of experience making the best matches between employers and talent. Let us help you too! Contact Pacific Staffing today to learn more.