How best to resolve workplace disputes - tips for employers

Faced with an employee raising a grievance? Here are some practical tips which should help you resolve the dispute at its early stage and stay on positive terms with your employee.

1. Face the problem now
Schedule a meeting with your employee as soon as a problem arises. Do not ignore it as you might not have another chance to resolve the dispute internally.

2. Do not let go of your emotions
During the meeting, be professional and focus on the case rather than on the person and what you feel or think about her or him. Establish facts of each case objectively. Showing empathy might also contribute to resolving the dispute successfully.

3. Allow the employee to be accompanied at the meeting
This is also one of the requirements listed in the amended Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.

4. Listen
Treat your employee with respect and listen carefully to what he or she is saying. They might have a point and even indicate ways of improvements helping you avoid similar problems in future.

5. Mediate
Try to achieve a compromise with your employee. This might save you money on usually costly tribunal hearings.

6. Learn from the experience
This might have been a tough but a necessary lesson for your company and you as an employer. Try to draw conclusions from the whole experience. Maybe your internal procedures need reviewing? Do you provide your employees with employment packs containing procedures on dealing with workplace disputes and grievances?

If you wish to find out more about the amended Code of Practice, click here to read our article ‘Resolving workplace disputes’ or contact our team.