Of all of the mediations and conflict resolutions that I have ever helped to resolve, those based at work are the most difficult for the following 3 reasons.
The second thing which makes work-based conflict difficult is that work has rules, that have to be abided by whether you agree with the rules or not. You trade or give up your time and labour in exchange for money and in doing that, you have to follow the company rules. If you do not follow those rules, you can end up unemployed.
Finally, the third reason why work-based conflict can be problematic, is that if you fall out with someone, you still have to work with them and see them every day. There are some areas of work where you can move you or another person or change your shift pattern, but that is not always practical or time-consuming. So if the quick locational fix does not or cannot be implemented, you will still end up working with people you don’t currently get along with.
Now all of these are what we call hard limits, they cannot be changed and while you have to option of leaving your job, you may not want to or even be able to, so what is the alternative?
Well, you have to find a way of getting on with your work colleagues, as it is not a relationship you can choose to leave unless you leave your job. The people you work with are not your family and not your friends, they are work colleagues so the usual rules do not apply. This is not about avoiding someone in the pub, or the club, this is about learning to resolve disputes and get along with people who you may not want to.
Now if you own a company or manage a team, the one thing which you will be aware of is the amount of stress and sick leave, which can come from conflict, as it is uncomfortable and people will not want to come to work due to it. Conflict at work can affect people’s well-being and mental health, it can lead to a drop in production and creativity and you can end up losing valued members of staff when it is not effectively dealt with.
In the worst cases, work-based conflict can spiral out of control and even lead to acts of aggression, police involvement and permeant criminal records and long-term unemployment.
If you are currently involved in a work-based dispute and are looking to hire a professional mediator, then please contact me for a free consultation call.
Jason
Call: 07919102191
Website: Vantage Mediation
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