FIU strives for a work environment free of conflict. However, should conflict arise within your work group, Employee & Labor Relations (ELR) is available to help manage and/or mediate conflict.

Below are tools which should be helpful to you, as the leader of your work group, in taking initial steps to avoid and resolve conflict.

• Address concerns. Concerns should be addressed immediately in order to avoid furthering conflict. Avoidance does not help the situation.
• Be mindful of the impact to others. Others in the work environment are negatively impacted by conflict. It is not limited to only those directly involved.
• Intervene as the manager. You must respond to signs of interpersonal conflict, and at times may need to act as a mediator by taking the following steps:
  • Meet with both parties together and allow each person to summarize his/her point of view without comment or interruptions by the other party. Depending upon the circumstances, you as the manager may determine the need to meet with each party independently before proceeding with the next step.
  • Once concerns have been identified, ask each party for specific actions they would like to see the other party take. You as the supervisor must own some responsibility for helping employees resolve conflict. Provide constructive feedback and recommendations when appropriate throughout the discussion. You may also require certain actions of each party.
  • Ask all participants to discuss and commit to the changes necessary to resolve the conflict.
  • Inform both parties of the consequences (disciplinary action and/or separation of employment) should either party be unwilling to resolve the issue or fails to follow through on the actions he/she has committed.
  • Determine a future time period in which progress will be reviewed.
  • Follow up in writing with a summary of the conversation and each party’s understanding of their commitment to resolve the conflict.
  • Request feedback from ELR when progress is not shown or sustained or in any situation where assistance is needed.