An estimated eight million workers in the UK experience job quality issues due to workplace conflict, affecting their mental and physical health.
- The CIPD Good Work Index 2024 reveals that 25% of UK employees faced workplace conflict in the past year, with being undermined, humiliated, or verbally abused among the most common issues.
- Employers are urged to focus on line management training to reduce conflict and address root causes such as poor management practices and excessive workloads.
- Job satisfaction significantly decreases for those who have experienced conflict, with only 54% reporting satisfaction compared to 77% of those who haven’t.
- Conflict leads to a lack of confidence and trust in senior leadership, and employees are twice as likely to plan on leaving their jobs if they experience conflict.
The CIPD’s recent survey underscores a pressing issue in the UK workforce, with an estimated eight million employees encountering workplace conflict within the last year. The widespread nature of this issue highlights the necessity for companies to prioritize effective management strategies. The survey identifies that nearly half of those affected by workplace conflict report experiences of being undermined, humiliated, or subjected to verbal abuse.
The CIPD emphasizes the importance of addressing these conflicts by implementing comprehensive line management training. By improving management practices, companies can create supportive work environments that are more inclusive and less prone to conflict. The survey highlights that excessive workloads and poor management are among the primary contributors to workplace unrest.
The data further reveals a stark contrast in job satisfaction between those who have experienced conflict and those who have not. Employees reporting workplace conflict show only 54% job satisfaction, as opposed to 77% among their conflict-free counterparts. This dissatisfaction translates into a higher turnover intention, with affected employees being twice as likely to consider leaving their roles.
Additionally, the findings indicate a significant decline in employees’ confidence in senior leadership when conflicts arise. Trust diminishes in the leadership’s ability to manage and resolve disputes, with employees perceiving a lower capacity for their managers to facilitate open communication. This signals the critical need for cultivating an environment where employees feel empowered to voice concerns.
Jake Young, a senior adviser at the CIPD, highlights, “A healthy level of discussion and debate is valuable; however, many find that workplace conflict extends beyond this, impacting job satisfaction and wellbeing negatively.” The survey shows that 42% of employees facing conflict frequently feel exhausted, and 37% often feel under pressure, compared to significantly lower percentages among those not experiencing conflict. Moreover, fewer employees report positive impacts on their mental and physical health in conflict-ridden environments.
Fostering a workplace culture of open communication and effective management is essential to mitigate the detrimental effects of conflict and enhance job satisfaction.
