Tips in Dealing with Workplace Disputes

As an employer, you can do a lot to ensure that your employees deal with disagreements in proactive, productive ways. One method is by knowing when and how you should intervene and when to let things be.

Here are some practical tips on how to deal with employee troubles and spats in the workplace:

• Identify the problem. Make sure everyone involved knows exactly what the issue is, and why they are arguing. Talk it out until everyone agrees that there is a problem, and understands what the key issues are.
• Listen to both parties involved in the dispute and try to keep an open mind in dealing with each other’s issues and in the general issue as well.
• Allow every person involved to clarify his or her perspectives and opinions about the problem. Make sure everyone has an opportunity to express an opinion. If necessary, establish a time limit (say, five minutes per person), and make sure each person sticks to the limit while stating his or her case. It is your responsibility to make sure all participants feel safe and supported.
• Identify the ideal end result, from each party’s point of view. It might surprise everyone to discover that their visions are not so different from each other after all.
• Figure out what can realistically be done to achieve each individual’s goals. If action is taken, how will this affect other projects and objectives? Will the end result be worth the time and energy spent? If the attempt fails, what’s the worst that can happen?
• Find an area of compromise. Is there some part of the issue on which everyone agrees? If not, try to identify long-term goals that mean something to everyone, and start the negotiations from there.
• A little anticipation or concern can go a long way toward preventing conflicts among coworkers.

To minimize the incidence of spats, here are some preventive measures you can take:
• Bring issues out in the open before they become problems.
• Minimize or avoid situation that could trigger problems or troubles
• Respond to the problem when you first notice it
• Have a process for resolving conflicts — bring up the subject at a meeting, and get agreement on what people should do in cases of differing viewpoints.
• Make sure everyone understands the company’s goals and expectations, including the expectation for each individual.
• Clarify job descriptions, responsibilities, and territories.
Workplace disputes can be prevented if both employers and employees know what to do in a situation. Disagreements in the workplace are often caused by misunderstanding among workers or with employers.

To thresh out matters, an employer should implement a policy on how disagreements and disputes must be resolved. The drafting of an employees’ manual can provide the necessary guidelines for workers about proper behavior and manner in the workplace.

In order to do this, an employer can get the services of LA employment attorneys who are knowledgeable in handling employment issues. Their skills and experience may prove beneficial in implementing a clear policy of resolving disputes in the workplace.


Our LA employment attorneys are capable of providing effective legal advices and representations to any type of workplace disputes. For more information, please log on to our website and consult our expert Los Angeles attorneys.