Family Business Workplace Conflict Resolution

I recently became part of the management team. I am 3rd down from the head manager. The managers and 1 of the employees sat down to plan for a special event. That particular employee was agreeing with everything the head manager had to say but as soon as we left the room that employee started telling me he was unhappy with how everything was planned out for the event and was unhappy about coming in on extra days, because it was taking time away from his kids. I told him I undersood but why did he not express his concerns to the head manager at the meeting? 3 days went by and although he was going along with the plans all he did was complain and complain. I did not want to make it seem like gossip, so I kept on telling him he needed to talk to the head manager. Unfortunatley he talked too much and to the wrong people and it got to the head manager. And to top it off she walked in on him telling someone that he was unhappy. After that I talked to her and shared with her what he had been tellin me. She called him into the office and asked him what was wrong and that she felt that he was not being open with her etc, etc. I know she should have not but she did mention my name and told him what I had said, I don’t know where but somehow it got lost in transalation that I didn’t tell her everything I just told her the bad stuff. According to the head manager they solved it. But I know this particular employee very well and know he will confront me on the floor and in front of other employees. I was thinking that when he does I should ask him if he would like to talk at a later time in the office because I dont’ think the floor is a good place to resolve this. But when we do go into the office I don’t know what to say. Because I feel like anything I say will get me into trouble. Should I apologize?? That would be admitting I did something wrong and I did. But I didn’t know how to handle the situation.

You call HIM into your office BEFORE he calls you out on the floor, clearly he did not possess the courage to speak up at the meeting so he whines and complains to everyone in the company which is ridiculous so he is hoisted on his own petard and all of this could have been avoided had he had the balls to speak up at the right time and the right place. You do NOT apologize, he deserved whatever comes to him however, the mgr had no right to tell him your name and what you said, etc, that was extremely unprofessional and really stupid so you need to address that with her one on one as well and just tell her in future, to pleAse omit your name in any confrontations that may arise. That was totally tacky of her to do.

Recommended Reading

• Conflict in Workplace: Your Good People Quit
• Conflict Hotline – March ’10, Workplace (Pt 1 of 6)
• Conflict Hotline – March ’10, Workplace (Pt 2 of 6)
• dealing with conflict in the workplace #2?
• The Complete Guide to Conflict Resolution in the Workplace