Jeremy McCarthy, group director of spa for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, has made the case for negative employees – stating that when people are negative about something, it means they really care.

In an article published by McCarthy on Linkedin, he says that students on his “Positive Leadership” course are divided on whether an apathetic employee is worse than a negative one. Fears of the contagious nature of negativity mean students see this type of employee as more of a threat to business than an apathetic colleague who represents “a drain on the system” – collecting a pay cheque but contributing at a very low level.

With an advanced degree in positive psychology, McCarthy says that negative or anxious members are needed to alert positive team members when mistakes are being made.

“You don’t want to create a culture where people can’t come to you with problems,” said McCarthy. “There is a time and a place for negativity in any organisation.

“In one of the spas that I managed, I pulled one of the more negative employees aside and asked for her help,” said McCarthy. “She was the one most likely to be complaining about things to her colleagues in the break room so I said, ‘I can tell you really care about how things go around here and you are holding us to a higher standard. I’d like you to help us get better. Can you start coming to our weekly management meeting and presenting us the biggest problems in the spa from the employees’ perspective along with proposed solutions?’

“I was taking the energy and passion that she clearly had, and trying to use it for good instead of evil,” continued McCarthy. “She became a huge asset to the team, a leader among her colleagues and helped us to be an even better place to work.

“Being a leader is not about eliminating negativity,” said McCarthy. “It’s about recognising the different strengths on your team and allowing them to spring forth for the betterment of the business. As you look at your own team, notice who the complainers are, but don't kill them. Thank them for keeping you on your toes.”