Conflicts....Who needs them??

Employee conflicts are something that should be dealt with very carefully.  The wrong move from a supervisor can result in the employee filing a lawsuit against you and the company for unfair treatment.  In this situation, it is known that the employee is lacking in a skill that should be dealt with at the most highest technical expertise.  It is also apparent that this employee has shown confrontational behavior, which in turn creates a hostile work environment.

Being a manager, I would approach the employee and situation with the intentions of trying to help them produce the work they once provided, instead of taking a negative approach.  It is said that confronting the conflict is the initial step toward its resolution (Cowan, 2003).  This way, they will see that I am not there to attack.  My first approach would be confronting the employee one-on-one.  Usually when there are others around, employees may not want to speak about why they are not satisfied with their position.  The next approach would be to provide examples of the issues that I am having with their work.  Since they have been with the company for some time now, they know the standards that I have set for them.  If the work is not matching up to that, then this is the time to figure out solutions. 

Maybe the situation has nothing to do with the workplace, but it stems from the home.  I have seen people take their anger and frustration out on other employees when it has nothing to do with them.  They don’t or can’t sit down with their loved ones and say what is really bothering them.  If this is happening, it should be resolved with communication from both parties. 

Another reason could be that this employee is overwhelmed with their work.  If that is the case, then maybe we can bring in help or place them in a position where they do not feel pressured to produce large quantities.  Moving a person to another position in this case is not reprimanding them; it is actually saving their career and sanity. 

Depending on how I, as a supervisor handled this particular situation will benefit and or hinder the outcome of the employees position in this organization.  I believe they will see that I am not there to reprimand them, but understand the reasons as to why they creating a negative atmosphere between themselves and others around them.  Once again communication will be the ultimate way to reach out to this particular employee, therefore giving him the opportunity to express his concerns. 

Employees are the most valuable assets to any organization.  If they are not happy with the way things are in the workplace, it will show in their attitude and in their work.  It is important to keep up a positive morale and in turn they will produce the amount of work to keep a business afloat. 

Cowan, D. (2003). Taking Charge of Organization Conflict:  A Guide to Managing

        Anger and Confrontation.  Personhood Press.