What
happens when two members of your workforce don’t get on? What could be
consequences of not dealing with it? Equally so, bashing heads together might
not be the best answer. Left to fester, it can create a hostile and difficult
working environment for everyone, whether in a small business, department or
building. Therefore it is vital for employers and/or managers to know how and
when to step in and sort out issues that could potentially cause a lot of harm
to the business. Here is an example of a situation we recently came across and
advised accordingly:
Scenario: Two of my staff members really
don’t get on, and I’m finding that I’m getting caught in the middle of their
antagonism towards each other. I don’t want to get rid of either of them, but
I’m at the stage where I feel I have no choice as it is affecting my customers.
Do you have any advice on how to deal with this situation?
Answer: Bad atmospheres and attitude
can be contagious, so tackle the issue now..
Call
them into a meeting and explain how their behaviour is impacting on work, their
colleagues and you and that you are not going to allow this to continue. To
improve the situation, hold individual meetings with them to try to understand
the cause of their antagonism, and then all meet together to agree a positive
way forward. Remind them that these meetings will be confidential and they must
not involve other staff at all.
Meet
again together and discuss the key issues. Try to get them to understand the
impact of their behaviour on the other without saying who is right or wrong.
Put the agreed action plan in writing to both and set a review date. Stress
that breaches of this agreed code of conduct will result in a disciplinary
action. The situation won’t magically improve overnight, but hopefully they can
learn to respect each other, and you, within the workplace.
If
the Olympics has taught us anything, it is that we build a stronger brand by
being in a team with mutual respect heading in an agreed direction, therefore a
delay in action could result in much deeper and painful consequences for all
concerned.
For further advice, speak to The HR Dept
