De-escalation | Fear of confrontation risks fuelling a rise in grievances, say experts

A widespread fear of confrontation is driving a culture of conflict avoidance in UK businesses, leaving HR at risk of dealing with a rising number of formal grievances. 

A survey by HR and employment law specialists, WorkNest, found that 43% of employers and HR professionals say fear of confrontation or escalation is the single biggest barrier to resolving disputes early. 

The data suggests that employees, including managers, are increasingly reluctant to address interpersonal issues with experts warning that this won’t be fixed through policy or procedure, but a cultural shift that spans the entire company. 

Alex Holmes, Employment Law Adviser & Solicitor at WorkNest said: “There is a growing tendency to not have difficult conversations due to a fear that it is confrontational or will cause an issue to exacerbate. However if handled correctly, it can actually de-escalate a situation and ensure a minor conflict doesn’t become more serious.