How to Tackle Common Workplace Issues
Most of an adult’s waking hours are spent at work, which means that when workplace issues occur, they can have a significant and negative influence on your sense of wellbeing and of happiness. With bills to pay and a family to support, it can be easy to feel trapped in a cycle of workplace misery. However, there are things that you can do to alleviate the stress of the workplace, and it is in your best interest to be proactive and seek a solution.
1. Low job satisfaction
You will be familiar with Mark Twain’s quote ‘find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life’; however, for many people, the word enjoyment rarely is associated with work, especially if you have been doing the same role for some time. Job satisfaction is motivating and rewarding, and if you are feeling neither you have a couple of options: find a new job or speak to your manager.
Your line manager cannot help to improve your role if they aren’t aware of how you feel about it, however, you must tread carefully. Rather than saying that you feel little job satisfaction, frame it that you would like to seek a promotion or would like further responsibilities. Your line manager will be able to advise and guide you to advance your career.
2. Interpersonal conflict
In every workplace there are a variety of characters and personalities, while some you will get on famously, there may be some people that you just don’t get on with. This can be very hard to cope with especially if you are in a position where you must work closely with or collaborate with them.
Always keep communication with colleagues professional. Emotions should be kept out of the workplace. If interpersonal conflicts begin to raise the stakes and you feel bullied, this is not acceptable. Keep a journal that details instances, situations, the names of witnesses and any correspondence that can be used in evidence. The business should have a bullying procedure in place to protect employees, so you should follow it. However, if things continue to escalate, you may be forced to seek legal advice, especially if you feel forced out of a job as a result. Spencerssolicitors.com offers advice on a no win no fee basis for this scenario.
3. Underperforming
If you are underperforming in your role, you must address this issue as soon as you can to avoid dismissal. Why do you feel that you are underperforming? Is it that you have a workload that is too big, or is it that you have a training requirement that needs to be met? You need to identify the reasons for your underperformance. Most businesses are keen to retain staff and will help you through this period of uncertainty. It is worth speaking to your line manager and HR department to see how they can support you – it may not be that you are underperforming, it may be that the business is not managing your workload effectively.
Workplace issues can have a huge impact on your personal life as well as your professional one, so it is important that you take steps to rectify any issues that arise. You will feel better once the issues are resolved, and whether it requires a chat with your line manager, HR department or even a specialist employment lawyer, you must take back control.
