Workplace Communication Dispute Case Study 

Their manager suggested mediation which was arranged within a week, as this dispute had been going on for 10 months and thus a quick resolution was required.

In private session Sonia told the mediator that she felt that Giles thought he was better than her, a perfectionist, he had more experience on certain issues and therefore he would have to correct her work with regards to certain aspects because she had no knowledge or training in those areas.

Giles felt that if Sonia paid more attention and worked harder she could grasp the knowledge she required, he had never been trained he learnt everything as he went along, and if he did, so could she, in fact he did not think he was better than her at all.

The mediator highlighted to both of them one anothers issues and that we all work in different ways and have different levels of training needs. Sonia suggested that if Giles actually trained her up on various issues that could possibly prevent him from having to correct aspects of her work, Giles felt it was not his job to do this and he had too much on, however if their manager approved it, then he would. Both agreed that they needed to work alongside each other and be respectful to one another, and any future issues needed to be communicated to one another in an orderly manner.

At first they both had a few teething problems, however their manager reported 3 months after the mediation, they were working with each other rather than against and both of their figures had now improved.