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.
Once upon a time, there was a man who lived in a little house on a big hill. He had very few neighbors and very few luxuries of life. He had two heads of cattle, five goats, five sheep and ten rabbits. He also had a vegetable garden and many fruit trees. He always preferred to have access to food rather than a big house. He felt that if he wanted to attract a good woman, he would impress her with his bountiful garden rather than a big empty house.
