June 1, 2022
Employee disputes can cripple a thriving business environment. To shield your operations from such disruptions, we present “5 ways to reduce employee disputes in your business”, each backed by practical applications that promote understanding and teamwork. Ready to cultivate a more harmonious workplace? Let’s explore these strategies together.
The whispering winds of communication are what keep the sails of a business afloat. In the workplace, open communication serves as the cornerstone, addressing issues promptly and preventing misunderstandings from evolving into larger disputes. Imagine a team as a well-oiled machine. Each cogwheel, each component, must move in sync, driven by the power of effective communication.
So, what makes communication truly effective? It’s about fostering understanding and catching potential issues early. In this pursuit, measures such as consistent team meetings and individual check-ins serve as the proactive gears of this machine. By promoting transparent policies and a culture that welcomes feedback and the exchange of ideas, we support performance improvements and better team dynamics.
In a world where there are multiple ways to communicate, particular if people are working remotely, there needs to be clarity on what methods to use and for what, and this should be set out and adhered to (this also save a lot of time). For example (and we recommend simplicity) meetings are done in-person or via video conference (select one and stick to it), if something is urgent/time sensitive (call first), for chains/more formal discussions (email), for anything else, instant messaging works well (use one system and stick to it).
Trying to resolve a dispute that started in person, moved to phone, then email, then WhatsApp, then there were text messages and then there were slack messages makes the whole process more difficult that it needs to be.
In the event that disputes do arise, having access to expert legal advice can be invaluable. An employment lawyer no win no fee arrangement can offer peace of mind and financial security, ensuring that your business is prepared to handle any legal challenges related to employment disputes effectively including ex gratia payments. Such legal support not only helps in resolving conflicts but also in preventing future disputes through the establishment of clear, fair employment practices.
Imagine a workplace where everyone feels comfortable voicing their opinions, where differing opinions are not a cause for conflict but a platform for productive discussion. A culture of open dialogue can help achieve this by making employees feel heard and understood, thereby reducing potential conflicts. This is not just about encouraging employees to speak; it’s about listening—actively and genuinely.
A psychologically safe environment allows employees to express dissenting opinions without fear. This freedom fosters a culture where issues are discussed among team members, and solutions are found independently, reducing the need for managerial mediation. Managers should embrace feedback with openness and curiosity, using questions to delve deeper into employee perspectives, thereby strengthening the dialogue.
The power of collaboration comes to the fore in team meetings. Imagine a roundtable, where ideas are shared, concerns are aired, and solutions are brainstormed. Regular team meetings enhance this collaboration, addressing concerns before they snowball into conflicts. They provide a structured opportunity for employees to discuss projects, identify potential issues, and work on resolving them collaboratively. We are not advocating more meetings that are required, but set a schedule that works and stick to it. If the meetings are consistent, they can be kept short and effective, and issues can be solved before they develop into big problems.
Regular meetings serve multiple purposes, including:
These meetings also help in maintaining a positive team atmosphere.
In the bustling world of team meetings, the quiet, one-on-one check-ins often get overlooked. But their impact can be profound. These check-ins allow managers to:
One of the most common complaints we receive that comes with a real sense of injustice, is staff reporting a lack of 1:1 meetings with their superiors.
To maximise the effectiveness of conflict prevention and resolution, one-on-one check-ins should be unhurried and thoughtful. Managers can proactively prevent conflicts by understanding the personal and professional challenges employees face during these meetings. Regular one-on-one meetings are essential for establishing open communication and collecting individual employee feedback. Have a structure to these meetings and enforce it, making sure its designed to obtain feedback on both sides. Don't just go through the motions.
Despite our best efforts in avoiding conflict, conflicts are an inevitable part of any workplace. When they do, effective conflict resolution skills can help maintain professionalism and mitigate personal biases during disputes. Training in conflict resolution can prevent disagreements from escalating into significant problems and help to resolve conflict more efficiently. However, when an unresolved conflict lingers, it can create tension and negatively impact productivity. Like any skill, conflict resolution benefits from practice, allowing individuals to refine their approach toward more effective resolution over time.
Regular training on conflict resolution training procedures offers benefits to everyone, from employees to managers. It equips them with various strategies for conflict management and resolution. For managers, comprehensive and ongoing training on conflict handling is crucial to fostering a harmonious work culture and managing disputes proactively.
Active listening, in conflict resolution, wields powerful effects. It’s not just about hearing what the other person is saying; it’s about understanding their emotions, their perspectives, and the underlying source of the conflict. When employees are trained in communication styles, they learn to articulate thoughts clearly and listen effectively to others.
Active listening can be achieved through:
In essence, active listening means offering undivided attention, which aids in quickly pinpointing the root of a conflict.
During conflicts, heightened emotions can easily eclipse the other person’s viewpoint. This is where empathy and understanding come into play. By demonstrating empathy, parties in conflict can see each other’s humanity, moving beyond their positions to address underlying needs. Showing empathy helps build mutual respect and understanding, leading to a satisfactory outcome for both parties.
Developing a culture that values empathy can lead to more effective conflict resolution as employees feel their perspectives are respected and valued. Empathic communication is not about agreeing, but acknowledging the other person’s perspective, fostering a sense of openness, respect, and safety. The power of empathy lies in understanding the motivations and pressures on other parties, which can assist in finding mutually beneficial solutions to conflicts.
As stated above, often the biggest determining factor for individuals escalating complaints is the empathy and understanding they received initially (we often refer to this as bedside manner). Therefore, even if a person feels strongly about an issue, they are less likely to take it further if they received empathy and understanding when raising it. You do not have to agree with the points raised to show empathy and understanding.
As the adage goes, ‘teamwork makes the dream work’. But it’s not just about achieving organisational goals. Promoting team building and collaboration can also simplify conflict resolution. How? By fostering team unity and enabling members to understand one another as individuals. Collaboration serves as a win-win strategy, valuing both relationships and goals to motivate parties to jointly seek solutions that satisfy everyone’s needs.
Team building and collaboration-promoting activities extend beyond the office space. Socialising outside of work, for instance, creates stronger interpersonal relationships, making it easier to handle conflicts within the workplace. Clear expectations and transparent communication cultures, together with a sense of team ownership, are crucial in developing team resilience against conflicts.
Team building activities serve as the secret ingredient adding flavour to the team’s synergy. They strengthen interpersonal relationships, enhance communication, and break down barriers among team members. These don't have to be elaborate, particularly if you are a small company. Simply spending some time together will help.
Issues can often arise if the only team building available involves after work drinks, which may exclude those with families or who do not drink alcohol. Some alternatives may be simply eating together at lunch or short coffee mornings.
Consider the employee handbook a compass, navigating employees through the landscape of workplace behaviour and company policies. A detailed employee handbook:
The handbook aids in resolving office conflicts by:
It’s like a map, providing a clear path to conflict resolution and setting expectations that everyone in the organisation can follow.
A common mistake we see is business owners painstakingly creating a handbook, but it never to be read or utilised. A handbook will only be useful if it is properly used and relied upon. Employees will feel very let down if they see management deviating from the written process without good reason. If you take the time to create such a document, make sure staff are training on its contents and how to use it.
Clear expectations are the foundation stones of any successful team. Setting expectations clearly (such as the requirement to use the staff handbook) during the onboarding process can enhance productivity and cohesion in the workplace. The key is to establish these expectations early, such as in the hiring and onboarding phases, increasing the likelihood that new hires will align with company standards.
When conflict arises, having a clear path to resolution is key. This path should be clearly outlined in the employee handbook, providing a structured approach for employees. An effective grievance procedure starts with an informal approach, where employees can verbally raise issues to their line manager, HR, or other relevant personnel with the aim of quick resolution.
If informal resolution is not satisfactory, employees can follow steps, such as submitting a formal grievance, by following the process set out in the handbook.
The handbook should also define how the business should deal with a grievance. A common mistake is for a grievance to be heard and for it to be simply upheld or not, with little or no thought or time spent on understanding what is needed to resolve the issue. Sometimes what the individual wants to happen is straightforward and easy to implement (it could even be easier than formally dealing with the grievance).
A workplace that promotes employee feedback and involvement is often a nicer place to work. The buzz of ideas and feedback from employees can enhance their job satisfaction and engagement, while also minimising workplace disputes. Feedback from employees can serve as nectar, providing valuable insights that can help the organisation grow and evolve.
Methods to collate feedback can vary and there are some benefits to anonymous feedback, but this can be done by utilising regular 1:1 meetings with standard questions that are designed to exchange feedback openly.
Obtaining regular employee input enables companies to stay ahead of potential issues. This proactive approach allows for prompt corrections, improvements, and modifications, ensuring a more harmonious and productive work environment. Often the most effective way of dealing with employee disputes is preventing them in the first place, but you should be set up for both. Meaning, you prevent the change of them arising and/or getting out of hand, but when they do arise, you are have a clear process of dealing with dispute quickly and effusively.
Responding to feedback involves more than just listening to employees; it necessitates action. Taking employee feedback seriously demonstrates that their opinions are valued within the organisation. Feedback should be considered constructively and used as a basis for making tangible improvements in the workplace.
When employees see that their feedback leads to positive changes, they feel recognised and credited for their contributions. This constructive approach to addressing feedback can foster a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement.
Every workplace is a unique symphony, with each employee playing a vital note. When these notes play in harmony, the workplace thrives. But when discordant notes of disputes creep in, it disrupts the melody. By establishing clear communication channels, developing effective conflict resolution skills, promoting team building and collaboration, creating a comprehensive employee handbook and encouraging employee feedback and involvement, we can tune these notes back to harmony. Let’s strive to create a workplace that is more than just a place of work—a harmonious, collaborative, and thriving community.m
