Survey indicates rise in workplace conflicts

The latest survey of UK workers has found that almost half of them believe that there has been an increase in conflicts in the workplace, leading to discussion about how HR should approach the issue.

This survey found that 44% of UK workers think that conflicts in the workplace are becoming more frequent. A total of more than 1,000 workers were questioned for the survey, which was carried out by YouGov. That 44% all stated that they were aware of conflicts that had happened within the organisations they work for in the past three years. Only 13% of those surveyed said that they felt workplace conflict was decreasing.

A number of factors were cited as reasons for the conflicts, with 25% stating that they were about pay. A further 22% said that conflicts were caused by working patterns, while 20% said that they were driven by performance and capability issues. 16% of respondents named harassment and bullying as causes of conflict.

What these findings show is that corporate culture and lack of communication lie at the heart of many conflicts. This is an area where companies can benefit by bringing in an employee relations consultant in Bedfordshire.

Ruth Cornish of Amelore spoke to HR Magazine about steps that HR can take. She emphasised the need for strong lines of communication, before adding:

“Training managers so they have the confidence to confront any areas of potential conflict is helpful.”

She also pointed to the value of things like pay audits in reducing conflict.