Workplace Dispute

[stink]

HI All,

Just after some opinions on a situation i am managing at the moment.

Now i have a permanent staff member and a contractor working in the same office, the permanent member has been with us for 4 yrs and the contractor has been working out here 5 days a week for about 12months.

Now firstly, they do not like each other Anyway a corner seat came up in the office and they both wanted to sit there. I made the decision to let my permanent staff member have the spot as we all know contract staff come and go. My contractor now argues that it should have been pulled out of a hat and is hinting on a diversity issue. I disagree as i beleive its a managers job to make decisions and sometimes people just have to accept it.

Anyway i have spoken with my diversity officer and there is no breach of anything in that regard.

Just wanted some opinions on how others would have dealt with it.

Regards Stink

 

[kyme]

Can I get a job there?. Must be a great place to work if all they have to worry about is who's sitting in my chair.

 

[stink]

HI Kyme,

Ridiculous i know, but someone has to sort it out.

Cheers

 

[krisbarry]

LOL,

Fark... get a grip mate, people are dying in workplaces, geting underpaid, overworked etc and your worried about the management of a chair, this really is a petty little matter.

They could always share the chair...one ar_se cheek each

 

[Kauri]

What is a diversity officer??? Ive never come across one of them.

 

[kyme]

I have had quite a few experiences in my time dealing with irate fellow employees and customers.I have found some very irrational behaviour at times over very minor matters. Normally I found after a lot of listening that the issue they are complaining about is a non issue, it is something else they are really upset about but not vocalising. Think you will have to dig deeper and find out the real cause they don't like each other, might provide the clues.

 

[stink]

HI All,

Thanks for the replies in my book a good manager cannot fob off the complaints of his or her subordinates, no matter how petty they are. I work in an environment where serious injuries and deaths are not uncommon so i am fully aware of where the issue sits in the grand scheme of things.

Anyway thanks for your input, Kyme i think your right the personal differences are most likely the spawn of this problem so i will put my Dr Phil hat on and go get emotional and caring

Cheers Stink

 

[nioka]

Sack them both. Use stupidity as an excuse.

 

[stink]

What is a diversity officer??? Ive never come across one of them.

Sorry Kauri,

A Diversity Officer in our workplace is someone who has had detailed training on the Equality and Diversity policies of the company, they are aware of actions employees can take should they feel they have been treated unfairly etc. Basically the first point of call for any workplace disputes that couls potentially be seen as discrimination etc.

Cheers Stink

 

[BIG BWACULL]

I think the long term employee gets the window seat (loyalty) but in that regard if one is pulling more weight than the other than a review of the matter should be on the cards in a few months. Every one should have a chance to sit next to the window. But of coarse due to the underlying problem of them not getting on can be difficult, Maybe you could give one of them your seat LOL

 

[nomore4s]

Sack them both. Use stupidity as an excuse.

lol, I'm with you

 

[nomore4s]

i think the long term employee gets the window seat (loyalty) but in that regard if one is pulling more weight than the other than a review of the matter should be on the cards in a few months. Every one should have a chance to sit next to the window. But of coarse due to the underlying problem of them not getting on can be difficult, Maybe you could give one of them your seat LOL

could maybe use it as a employee of the month award, lol

 

[Kauri]

Sorry Kauri,

A Diversity Officer in our workplace is someone who has had detailed training on the Equality and Diversity policies of the company, they are aware of actions employees can take should they feel they have been treated unfairly etc. Basically the first point of call for any workplace disputes that couls potentially be seen as discrimination etc.

Cheers Stink

Thanks mate,
By the way, how old are the two people arguing over the seat?

 

[x2rider]

Remove the seat and make them both stand, Or put in a bench seat , or a nice seat sharing position once a week.

I'm glad I am in construction . Office workers are just so soft

Cheers martin

 

[cuttlefish]

Any contractor worth his/her salt knows that contractors always get the lousy seats - goes with the territory.

 

[CanOz]

I think you made he right decision Stink. You have the final say, your the manager.

Cheers,

 

[Smurf1976]

I'd give it to the permanent employee unless there is some problem with their performance that you don't want to reward.

.....

I've literally just finished a 4 hour conversation with someone who has caused me plenty of trouble in the past (I'm the boss).

It might seem a bit over the top to have spent literally half the day talking to one person about things of no real value to the company, but I think it has been time very well spent.

Both sides have given some ground and I think we're going to get along better from now on. I've quite freely acknowledged that there are things that I could have done better. He has in return acknowledged that I can only act on the basis of information available at the time and couldn't possibly have pleased everyone.

So we may not completely agree with each other, but at least now we can agree to disagree and discuss things in a polite manner and see both sides of the argument.

 

[carmo]

Make them sit on each others knee, until they can sought it out themselves!

 

[macca]

I would give it to neither of them, if it is the "best seat in the office" then I would give it to my 2IC.

 

[BIG BWACULL]

If they cant get on with each other tell them you have a office space with a desk at the window of the local CENTRELINK office for both of them that way they both have a choice of what theyd like to do lol GET on or GET out.