EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

Workplace Conflict

Cause and resolution

May 2006

Workplace Conflict

Causes Resolution

Conflict between management and labour has always been a contentious area . However , over the past twenty years or so its context has changed In the past the management-labour conflicts reporting was predominately related to large commercial organisations with management in conflict with hundreds or thousands of workers , albeit it represented by unions Today 's it has become more personal . There has been a substantial increase in employer to one or two worker conflicts . Irrespective of the numbers

, the principles are the same

Here discuss and evaluate the causes of conflict between management and labour and ascertain how these should be addressed We will research the appropriateness of law and at what point in the conflict cycle it would be relevant

Conflict between management and labour manifests itself in differing ways . On initial research , it could appear that psychologists , human resource personnel project contradictory conclusions , especially when they promote the theory that conflict can be a positive aspect of the workplace . For example , the following two statements , delivered in the same researches , on first reading tend to produce conflicting views . The first concentrates on conflict as a positive aspect

Bagshaw Falconer (2003 . Better solutions . - When people disagree about a plan of action it gets them thinking . They often look again at the plan and notice defects . When nobody raises any doubts , the first plan just goes through

In a study made a year later , on the surface they appear to be promoting the opposite viewpoint

Falconer et al (2004 ) 4 . Recognising the danger signs - Diane Hall , when does conflict and /or a strong management style become bullying or harassment ? What is a hostile work environment ? How to recognise inappropriate behaviour

In reality , there is a point at which simple disagreements the most basic level of conflict , ceases and a conflict becomes aggressive and threatening . This is the point at which it ceases to be constructive conflict and become destructive conflict

Bagshaw Falconer (2003 ) constructive is often labelled `cognitive or `co-operative ' conflict , destructive conflict is often referred to as `dysfunctional , `affective ' or `emotional ' conflict because it is driven not by ideas , opinions or the desire for solutions

Causes of Conflict

To evaluate the appropriate response , and the prevailing conditions that would necessitate legal intervention , the causes first need to examined and understood

Understanding how conflict arises at work can be very helpful for anticipating situations that may become turbulent . Sometimes it can seem that smallest incident can start a conflict between your boss and you Brett Hart (2000

Conflicts can erupt between the employer and the employee because of an initially unrelated incident . For example , where there has been an incident within the home of either party . This could put the person into an argumentative frame of mind every before they start the working day Already physically affected by the home or other outside event , the stress levels that have built up will produce and adverse reaction to the smallest...