The amount of time spent by employers resolving individual workplace conflict has increased in more than 40% of UK organisations during the past two years, according to research published by XpertHR today.
However, according to the research there was a perception among respondents that the overall level of individual conflict was not excessive. Just 6% of respondents describe the level of conflict between individuals as “high”, with 42.8% saying it is “average” and 51.2% reporting it as “low”.
The XpertHR study also found that the smaller the organisation, the lower the level of individual workplace conflict: 65% of employers with between one and 249 employees describe the level of conflict as “low” compared with 59% of those with between 250 and 999 employees and 25% of those with more than 1,000 staff.
Public sector employers reported a slightly higher level of individual disputes within their organisations. Rachel Suff, author of the report, said: “The tendency for public sector employers to report a slightly higher level of conflict is not surprising given the well-publicised efficiency drives, spending cuts and job losses in the sector.”
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
The most common reasons given by the employee for the individual dispute are dissatisfaction with their line manager, perceived bullying and harassment and a personality clash. All three of the top reasons for the conflict cited by XpertHR respondents relate to relationships in the workplace, which is probably no coincidence – relationships at work are pivotal to the employment relations climate.
The full report is available on XpertHR.
