Remote Work May Ease Tense Workplace Situations

Workplace productivity hinges not just on managing workloads but crucially on addressing conflicts, which experts identify as a more significant drain on performance than excessive tasks. Conflicts, even minor ones, erode motivation and contribute to underperformance. In severe cases, they manifest as sick leave, resignations, and premature retirements, incurring substantial human and financial costs.

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Conflicts in the workplace burden even more seriously than long-term, excessive workloads.

While Finnish organizations are generally adept at personnel management, they often struggle with conflict resolution. Common approaches include sweeping issues under the rug or utilizing management's authority for immediate, albeit forced, resolutions through warnings or dismissals. This top-down approach, while swift, inflicts emotional distress and forfeits the potential for learning and growth inherent in conflict.

To mitigate these damages, a growing number of organizations are adopting principles of restorative justice. This approach shifts focus from assigning blame to understanding causes, fostering genuine behavioral change without resorting to punishment. When employees feel heard, they are more inclined to perform at their best. Conversely, humiliation breeds resentment and resistance.

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In Finland, personnel management is understood, but we are helpless when it comes to conflict management.

Restorative practices also prove effective in managing organizational change and addressing underperformance. They cultivate psychological safety, creating fertile ground for innovation and experimentation. The article suggests extending workplace development efforts beyond physical environments to encompass the quality of daily interactions and interpersonal dynamics. Notably, remote work is observed to potentially ease workplace tensions by providing physical distance, though successful remote management requires deliberate effort and trust.

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The tense cooperation may find more constructive tracks when one gets distance from the other's face.