Nobody enjoys workplace conflict, whether it’s as a person directly involved or as an individual on the sidelines. Workplace anger and disputes affect everybody within the business and can have a severe negative impact on morale and productivity. That’s why it’s essential to handle conflict appropriately and quickly.
What are the Signs of Conflict?
Even if disputes and conflicts aren’t admitted outright, the following can be telltale signs:
- A lack of productivity
- A lack of communication between people
- Employees wishing to leave or a high general turnover rate
- Anger and unrest
- Certain individuals failing to communicate or suddenly ignoring one another
What Can You Do About It?
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Address the Conflict Openly
A dispute is not going to be resolved if it is ignored. It may be the case that conflict has arisen, but the reasons behind it aren’t altogether clear. In this case, it’s a good idea to address the conflict head-on by talking about it. If the conflict is between an employer and employee, then one party should encourage a conversation to resolve the matter. If the dispute is between two employees, the employer should take the necessary steps to assist the employees in speaking about and resolving their conflict – preferably in front of a senior team member to ensure it is a safe environment for the discussion.
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Consider a Notary
If the dispute has garnered the need for an official meeting to resolve the conflict between a business owner or manager and employee, then you may feel you need a witness and an official individual to oversee the resolution and any signing of documents where applicable. The document could be a new employee contract that addresses the conflict that has arisen in more severe disputes. If you would like to discover more about finding a notary, follow this link.
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Create a Safe Environment
If conflicts are occurring between employees, then there needs to be a clear procedure for how to deal with it. In order to encourage employees to speak up more openly about issues and disputes, employers should be presenting themselves as a person always willing to listen, or else firmly stating which senior staff member should be spoken to regarding any disputes. Conflicts can only be resolved quickly and effectively if employees feel as though management care about what they have to say and offer an opportunity to say it.
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Develop an Official Employee Handbook
If you have an official handbook that outlines how disputes should be handled, this can significantly help to work through a troublesome situation. If you are an employer trying to resolve a conflict between two employees, having a handbook means you have something subjective to fall back on and can treat all employees the same way when it comes to a dispute. Otherwise, relying on your own decision in the matter – even if it is a fair decision – may cause one employee to feel unjustly treated or accuse you of favoritism. An employee handbook ensures that everybody is working off the same page.
