HR Industry News

Research reveals conflict is rife in the workplace

— 14 June 2007 —

People who work in human resources, finance, retail, travel and transport are the most likely to experience conflict in the workplace according to a new study.

A survey of 1,000 people by Eversheds revealed that almost a third of all workers fall out with their colleagues on a weekly basis.

The study also found that younger workers experience the highest levels of conflict, with 45% of 16 to 24 year olds clashing with their colleagues at least once a week.

Respondents identified the top three causes of conflict as:

• specific individuals who thrive on causing trouble,
• people with their own agenda, and
• underperforming colleagues.

Eversheds head of employment law, Martin Warren, said the research highlighted two important issues for businesses - the requirement to manage conflict in the workplace and also the need to address the apparent fear among workers to feedback on bad performance in case it leads to conflict.

In terms of managing conflict between employees, he said, there is a fine line between healthy debate and a more heated situation.

It is no excuse for employers to say that conflict between staff is symptomatic of the working culture, he continued, and that conflict that is left unchecked could lead to cases of bullying, harassment and stress, which could all result in litigation.

Ceridian’s Paul Avis added, “From an occupational health perspective it is often a challenge to advise employers that so called work-based stress is actually a management problem, and not a clinical one. The issue is that the GP will sign a sick note after a bust-up, and the employer runs scared of challenging the GP. A good occupational health practitioner will illustrate that much stress is caused by workplace conflict. It is therefore a management issue as opposed to a clinical one, and the employee should return to work.”

       

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