1.3 What is Behind Workplace Conflict?
As a Human Resources professional, you may regularly have employees who act poorly. Additionally, you may witness employees acting in an unusual or inappropriate manner. When this occurs, it is worth asking, “What is really going on?”
Taking the time to ask questions and be curious often results in discovering additional factors impacting the individual in question. These factors usually fall into one of two categories. First, we have workplace factors. These workplace factors occur in most organizations and are predictable. Second, we have personal factors. These personal factors, while unique to each employee, are common among employees, regardless of where they work. Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors.
Workplace Factors
Individuals within an organization face similar challenges, which are known as workplace factors. Here is a list of the most common workplace factors that may lead to workplace conflict.
- Co-workers disagreements: about how to complete a project.
- Lack of resources: finances or time.
- Job insecurity: concern a company will close or a job will be eliminated.
- Workplace conduct: harassment, teasing or bullying.
- Work overload: unrealistic amount of work.
- Unfair practices: treatment, favouritism, pay.
- Lack of career opportunities: promotions, training, mentoring.
Personal Factors
Similar to workplace factors, there are common factors that individuals face in their personal lives. These personal factors may lead to a workplace conflict. Here is a list of the most common personal factors that may lead to workplace conflict.
- Grief: loss of a partner, family member, or friend.
- Financial issues: bankruptcy.
- Marital issues: separation or divorce.
- Caretaking issues: childcare or parental care.
- Addiction: medication or alcoholism.
- Health issues: illness, injury, and mental health concerns.
- Work-life balance concerns: inability to enjoy downtime away from work.
Have you ever heard of the “sandwich generation”? When an individual is facing the pressure of taking care of their children and aging parents simultaneously, this is the sandwich generation.
Image Source
Adobe. (2024). Firefly. [Large language model]. https://firefly.adobe.com/
- Prompt: “Create a photo-realistic image of a person of diverse background hunched over slightly carrying a heavy load of rocks stacked on top of each other on their back”
Adobe. (2024). Photoshop Generative Fill AI. [Large language model]. https://www.adobe.com/ca/products/photoshop
- Prompt: “Modern style detailed illustration: A cartoon family portrait of an older couple, a middle-aged young man (25 years old), a middle-aged young woman (25 years old), and two young children – a boy and a girl both on one side. The older couple appears to be grandparents on both sides, the man is likely the father, and the children are likely his and her kids. They are all depicted with exaggerated, caricature-like features and expressions, conveying a humorous, lighthearted tone. They are all upset, angry, and shouting. They sit back to back with each other. Young people are on the right side, old people on the left side, with middle-aged young people in the middle. The two young kids are on the right side of the picture, all older people are on the left side, and the young woman and man are in the middle of them, looking directly forward.” All further edits by Sanaz Habibi
