Employers are failing to fully resolve workplace conflict, report reveals

A report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), which is based on the experiences of more than 2,000 employers and 5,000 employees, found a clear gap between employers’ trust in their policies and procedures and positive outcomes for employees.

The findings have highlighted the need for employers to have a comprehensive conflict resolution framework that emphasises the importance of early action.

Unresolved complaints

Seven in 10 (70 per cent) employers have said their organisation has effective procedures for resolving interpersonal conflict. However, this confidence did not come through in the employee survey findings.

Of the employees who experienced conflict in the last 12 months, only 36 per cent said it has been fully resolved. For this reason, organisations need to assess the effectiveness of their conflict management procedures and develop a greater awareness of employees’ experiences of unfair treatment like bullying and harassment.