Why Supervisors and Employees Disagree

There are times when the managers and the staff will disagree. Salary, promotion and micro-management are some of the causes of the disagreements.

Managers and supervisors need to have healthy working relationships and clear communication with the employees so that work flows and on-the-job conflicts can be solved in a timely manner. However, despite how supervisors and staff may try, there will be times when they disagree. These parties disagree because of promotional opportunities, a breakdown in communication, salary, micromanagement and inappropriate behavior.

Promotion

Employees look forward to working in an organization that has room for growth and promotion.

According to Gregorio Billikopf, author of Labor Management in Agriculture from the College of Natural Resources of the University of California, Berkeley, "organizational movements, such as promotions, transfers, job rotations, demotions, and layoffs may alter workers' security, satisfaction and productivity". When an employee sees that others are pushed forward, while he is not promoted, he will be disheartened. The employee can get disgruntled and disagree not only with the supervisor but with the other employees. On the other hand, the manager can fall out with an employee who was promoted and is not delivering a high level of work as expected.

Performing the Duties of Others

Have you ever worked in an organization where the supervisor recognizes that you have special talents? If you have, you may have been stuck with tasks outside your job description. Sometimes the tasks are actually those of other employees who are somehow unable to perform. If the tasks are relevant to your position, then you can add same to your resume. However, employees can quickly get frustrated when other staff's work is set upon them just because they can excel at simple tasks like adding page numbers to a document or formatting a memo. When employees are singled out to perform tasks that others should be doing, it can lead to frustration.

Breakdown in Communication

 A breakdown in communication can be unclear communication or lack of communication. Unclear communication causes rifts between couples, with friends and certainly between employees and supervisors. According to the Jamaica Gleaner in a September 23, 2007 article, " Communication Likely to Affect Loyalty in the Workplace - JEF ", "a group of workers surveyed by the Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF) has identified communication at the workplace as the number one factor likely to influence their loyalty to their organizations". Communication breakdown can occur in the sharing of complaints and qualms, whether considered insignificant or major. It can also happen when tasks given out are vague. Both the employer and the employee have to ensure that communication is clear and definitive to avoid conflict.

Salary Issues

Salary, especially with the soaring oil and food prices, is very important to employees in all levels in an organization. Any action that affects an employee's take home pay, specifically a decrease, will be cause for disagreement with the supervisor. In some instances, an employee may have exceeded the allotted sick days or vacation leave for a year and has to take leave without pay. This instance may also fall under the unclear communication heading if the supervisor does not explain the company's policy and the country's labor laws.

Micro-management

There are some employees that need constant supervision. However, many staff members are capable of executing their tasks with little or no supervision. Miriam-Webster Dictionary defines micromanage as "to manage especially with excessive control or attention to details". Employees, especially those who are mid-level to senior staff members, may want to work independently on most projects. An example where micromanagement may lead to disagreement is where a senior worker is assigned a project and is implementing said task with a team of peers and subordinates. When the manager intercedes and gives new tasks or orders changes to the subordinates, then there is a strong chance that there will be a negative interaction between the project head and manager. Micromanagement in such a case also causes the subordinates to be confused and they may lose confidence in the project head.

Disrespectful or Inappropriate Behavior

There is no toleration for disrespectful or sexually suggestive behavior in the workplace. This is not only a cause for contention and can also bring litigation by the employee or the employer. Even if your supervisor swears, that is no indication that any employee should follow such behavior. Sexual advances are also not acceptable by either the management or the staff or across either level. 

There are several reasons why employees and supervisor disagree. While we hope to have a peaceful work environment, contention will occur. When disagreement becomes constant, then all sides need to meet on all issues, with a mediator if needed, to get the organization running optimally without

unnecessary disturbances.

Sources:

• Communication Likely to Affect Loyalty in the Workplace - JEF", Jamaica Gleaner, Published September 23, 2007 and accessed online May 3, 2011
• Miriam-Webster Dictionary, accessed online on May 3, 2011
• Billikopf, Gregorio. Labor Management in Agriculture (2nd Edition, 2003). College of Natural Resources of the University of California, Berkeley. Accessed online version on May 3, 2011.