Effectively running a modern workplace can be a hectic endeavor, especially with many of the new workplace management and productivity trends that are emerging. The stress that comes along with earnings reports and meeting quarterly goals can put a lot of pressure on employees and lead to complaints of unfair employee treatment in the workplace. This can lead to formal complaints being filed and real problems developing between employees and upper management.
For this reason, it is important to understand some of the most effective ways to mitigate these situations and help all of the parties involved find common ground and the most rational, fair solution.
How To Manage Unfair Employee Treatment Complaints
Managing complaints is never an easy task. There is always an air of discomfort due to the stress of daily responsibilities over time, and you always want to ensure you keep the situation formal and de-escalated. However, there are some actionable steps that you can put in place that will help to properly solve the situation and foster a more understanding and cooperative environment.
Identify The Complaints
To start, try to identify the details of the complaint and absorb everything you can regarding both sides of the story. Try to determine whether the employee is concerned with favoritism, unfair punishment, or another form of unfair employee treatment in order to get a grip on what the core of the issue is. Once you figure this out, document it and keep it on hand for reference throughout the process.
Listen To Both Sides Of The Story
As we mentioned, make sure you really try to be empathetic and understand both sides of what is happening. Stress, short deadlines, and tight budgets can skew the details of each account, so once the manager has explained his story, present to him exactly what his employee has reported. Inconsistencies might become apparent, but understanding the employee’s point of view could bring about increased awareness on the manager’s part and allow them to become more understanding and empathetic.
Help The Manager Understand The Employee’s Point Of View
Sometimes there can be a disconnect between managers and employees. This does not necessarily mean that the manager is completely at fault, but it makes it important to help them understand more about what led the employee here, and also what factors the manager may be unaware of that have led to this situation. These are not excuses that allow an employee to get away with bad behavior, but highlighting them can make a manager empathize more with the personal pressures that employees deal with on a daily basis.
Educate Managers On Conflict-Resolution Strategies
If you don’t already, make sure you spend time educating managers on proper conflict resolution strategies or make sure there are educational programs in place that foster a positive mindset. Your managers will only operate under the values and culture that the organization encompasses, so make sure you’re always striving to create a workplace with open communication and an air of autonomy and purpose. This will also help you to preemptively reduce the number of conflicts that occur due to increased employee freedom and less managerial overflow.
Maintain An Open Channel Of Communication
Communication is the bedrock of a healthy workplace. Make sure that both managers and employees are aware that there is always an open channel of communication available to them should any questions or concerns arise. Another important aspect of communication is to ensure that objectives and goals are clearly stated. This means that there should be no gray area in the minds of managers and employees as far as what is expected of them.
Lead From The Front
One of the most effective ways to minimize unfair employee treatment complaints is to enlist the help of your senior staff to set an example. If team leaders behave in line with the values of your business, their conduct will trickle down to the rest of your staff.
However, if the leaders in your workplace are being slack with standards, you should expect others to think they can get away with unfair treatment as well.
Reach Out To An Independent HR Consultant
If you see your workplace needs help in navigating fair treatment expectations. Contact the fair treatment experts at HR Search and Rescue. We’ll help you learn more about how you can improve equality and ensure your employees are treated fairly.