Page 4 - The Leadership Line: May 2021

Compliance:

Hostile Work Environment in Communication

With more team members working remotely, on-the-job conflicts are happening digitally, with disagreements carried
out not through face-to-face arguments, but over e-mails, texts, and intraoffice channels. This can lead to an employee
initiating a hostile work environment complaint. What is a hostile work environment complaint?

A hostile work environment is created by a manager or coworker whose actions, communication, or behavior make doing
your job impossible. This means that the behavior altered the terms, conditions, and/or reasonable expectations of a
comfortable work environment for employees. This behavior must be severe, long lasting over time, and discriminatory in
nature as well.

Communication Tips

If you need assistance in handling employee situations, please reach out to your HRBP. In
the meantime, here are some tips for improving communication with your team:
» Be Pro Active – Working remotely can be a hub for misinformation and unclear com-
munication; regular meetings can keep everyone accountable and informed.
» Over Communicate – For managers, this means having a virtual “open-door” policy
that allows employees to discuss anything on their minds and ensures healthy relations
among remote employees.
» Clarify Communication - Workplace conflict primarily stems from unclear communi-
cation, regardless of whether it is in a virtual or remote environment. Make sure your
communications are transparent and honest.

Did You Know?

A recent study from MyPerfectResume revealed:

81% of remote

On experiencing conflict in professionals More than one-third
of respondents felt
the workplace: have experienced
◊ 65% with their co-workers workplace conflict. that their bosses
◊ 19% with their direct manager were too aggressive
◊ 11% with an external manager in their texts.
◊ 5% with an employee working at
another company.