In all workplaces, irrespective of how well managed they are, conflicts arise. This is part of human nature, and all businesses should factor in the cost of conflict to a certain extent. However, the disruption that results from conflict and grievances within the practice can and should be kept to a minimum. This depends, essentially, on your management technique and your commitment to the health and welfare of your entire workforce. 

Most conflicts can be resolved informally. Mediation is a fast, non-judgmental, independent and very cost-effective way to resolve disputes in the workplace. Lisa Murray offers professional, confidential, and straightforward workplace mediation and conflict resolution services for veterinary and agri-food businesses across Ireland. We can advise on the best ways to handle workplace conflicts, offering clear, no-nonsense advice to solve workplace tensions between staff members and/or between staff and management. 

Because this service forms part of the informal process of managing a grievance in the workplace, it allows the practice owners and managers the scope to be independent, and therefore available later on in the process should there be a requirement to initiate a formal investigation. This has proven to be a very cost-effective way of managing grievances in the workplace.