Finding two or more employees engaged in a quarrel at the workplace, involving yelling, some pushes on the shoulders, and foul language can be problematic for the corporate environment. It leads to lengthy gossip sessions in the cafeteria or near coffee espresso in the corridors. Gradually, it can impact the culture of teamwork and reputation. If such an environment of hostility and rumors goes unchecked, your company might become a victim of lawsuits.
Employees are responsible for abiding by the rules and regulations drafted in the employment contract legally by lawyers in Dubai or anywhere in the world. But it is also unavoidable that some employees will not get along with each other. Different personalities, preferences, and ideas can lead to conflicts.
Though it might be an uncomfortable scenario, resolving disputes and arguing among coworkers should be done immediately to alleviate the problem and reach an agreement that both sides can live with.
Here are some ways you can resolve the disputes between employees at your workplace:
Confront The Dispute Immediately!
Address the dispute between employees immediately rather than avoiding it and letting the anger boil. You must reach a solution as soon as possible before the ‘hotheads’ bring their tempers and bullying tactics into the office to provoke coworkers into meeting them outside. Such hostile behavior can become an embarrassment for an organization. If there is a physical altercation, immediately follow the organization’s protocols, including the HR department and other trusted personnel.
Hear Both Sides
If you see them fighting, meet each party individually to hear their point of view of the cause. It will allow them to air their grievances and carefully listen to reasoning before reacting. Also, make sure to carefully explain any things you don’t understand by reiterating the issue to the worker and asking clarifying questions. You can also talk to other employees who were present throughout the conflict. It will help you make an informed decision on the basis of different perspectives.
Express Understanding and Empathy
Avoid placing blames and accusations when you meet with the employees to resolve the dispute. Don’t try to lift one up by demeaning the other. It might seem like a convenient hack to resolve conflicts in the short term. However, it will create problems in the long term.
Instead, be wise enough to acknowledge the degree of their frustration and try to empathize with their feelings. It is also important to acknowledge their feelings without admitting that they are righteous in those feelings. To do so, you need to make the selection of your words carefully.
Identify the Issue
After speaking with the employees involved in the workplace dispute, take your time to identify the causes. You must identify the patterns in everyone’s perspectives. Also, try understanding the environment in which your employees are working daily.
You might come across reasons associated with confusion, misunderstandings regarding job roles, projects, pay discrepancy, and an understanding of unfair treatment. The solution depends on the kind of problem you are dealing with.
Get HR Personnel into The Room
It is crucial that you include the Human Resource Department personnel while resolving the issue. They have comprehensive knowledge and extended expertise concerning workplace policies and procedures.
You will become aware of steps to take in resolving the conflict through their assistance. Hence, include HR personnel in the process while meeting the employees involved in the conflict. They will review the company’s standards and corporate policies for you.
Enforce Discretion
As you work towards resolving disputes between the concerned employees, ensure that the rest of the staff maintains professionalism. Discourage them from gossiping and spreading rumors. Do not allow your team to discuss any aspect of the conflict with employees outside of the department and interview instantly if you see someone violating your orders.
Time to Come Up with A Solution
Once you have identified the cause of the dispute between employees, fabricate alternatives for solutions. In your decision-making process, try to be as fair as possible. Try explaining to your employees that most solutions require parties to compromise.
Final Thoughts
Fighting between employees is unfortunate because someone can get hurt or lose their job. The reasons can vary. Human nature can bring about egos and jealousies over work assignments, pay grades, promotions, increments, and other actions. Hence, make sure to brew a culture of teamwork and collaboration among employees in order to avoid meeting with corporate lawyers. It will help diminish the possibility of conflicts in the future.
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