COMBATING CONFLICT IN THE WORKPLACE: THE CONTENT AND EFFECT OF A CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING PROGRAMME

Authors

  • Marili Williams Marili Williams, Police Social Work Services, SAPS, Pretoria.
  • Mike Weyers Social Work Division, School for Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15270/45-4-189

Abstract

Conflict and bullying in the workplace remain issues that employers tend to sweep under theproverbial carpet, partly because of the stigma involved and partly because of their own doubtabout how the problem should be addressed (Anon., 2001:1-2; Beswick, Gore & Palferman,2006:1, 21-25; Dijkstra, Van Dierendonck & Evers, 2005:119-121; Simpson, 2001:1-6). Thetendency has been either to ignore the problem or, at most, minimise its consequences. Theseconsequences more often than not take the form of high levels of stress amongst employees orhigh absenteeism and staff turnover rates, or both. The current dominant approach is in manyrespects akin to blaming the victim and closing the door after the horse has bolted (Dijkstra etal., 2005:119-121; Kennedy, 2004:1-3).

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Published

2014-06-18

How to Cite

Williams, M., & Weyers, M. (2014). COMBATING CONFLICT IN THE WORKPLACE: THE CONTENT AND EFFECT OF A CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING PROGRAMME. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 45(4). https://doi.org/10.15270/45-4-189

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