3 ways to squash remote-work squabbles
Conflict’s not always the worst thing. But in a virtual setting, tensions and misunderstandings can quickly escalate toward all-out war. Here’s how to prevent problems before they fester.
Conflict indicates an engaged work team.
Often, conflict prevents bad decisions and big mistakes and can lead to innovative ideas. But the downside: Small irritations can fester into big team divisions that hamper productivity and even halt progress altogether.
Workplace conflict has increased despite the fact that 63% of respondents to a recent survey say they are not physically going into the office and 10% claim home as their usual workplace pre-pandemic. Why?
When employees work remotely, the risks are greater than when people can gather in the breakroom, get to know each other’s idiosyncrasies, and make allowances for their personal quirks on a work project. One wrongly phrased email or text can raise hackles, and you’ll never know about the “slow burn” until the conflict bursts into flames.
According to another survey by Randstad, 38% of employees say they want to quit their job due to what they label a toxic work environment or a workplace where they feel they don’t fit in. Here are just a few of the common detonators that set off conflicts in a remote workplace:
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