Latest news with #workplaceConflict
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
I started a new job but a colleague who lost out on my role is cold and rude – what can I do?
APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions. Here, Karren gives advice to a reader who wants to get back into an in-house role after years of freelance work. Q) I recently started a new job and everyone seems really nice, except for one woman who is at the same managerial level as me, but in a different department. She has been very cold towards me, makes a point of speaking over me in meetings and is really abrupt whenever I talk to her. A colleague mentioned this woman unsuccessfully applied for my role, so I wonder if that is what's fuelling this attitude. I'm not sure what to do, as I don't want to make an enemy of her by going to HR, but I'm starting to dread coming into the office. Do you have any advice? Bella, via email A) It's understandable that you're feeling uncomfortable – navigating tension with a colleague can be challenging, especially in a new role. If her behaviour is being driven by disappointment over not getting the job, it's likely more about her than it is you. Find a calm moment to have a direct but non-confrontational conversation, acknowledging any awkwardness and expressing a desire to work together professionally. Approach her with empathy, while also setting clear boundaries. Talk through examples of how her behaviour – such as not listening to your input, speaking over you in meetings and being abrupt – makes you feel undermined and disrespected. Karren Brady is an 'ice queen' who ignores The Apprentice candidates - even when the cameras aren't rolling, claims ex-star Also, give examples of interactions she has had with other colleagues, where she has been more respectful, to show her that the way she treats you is different. Sometimes, simply addressing the tension can shift the dynamic. Above all, protect your own wellbeing – no one should dread coming into work. With time and professionalism, the situation may ease, especially as you establish yourself in your role.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Currys worker's fury over missing office mug ‘out of proportion', judge rules
The colleagues of a man who became 'very upset' about his office mug going missing likely felt his response was 'out of proportion', an employment tribunal has found. A judge ruled that Adeel Habib probably gave his colleagues 'reason to believe that he viewed the loss of the mug as stealing' and that this is 'likely to have caused some resentment towards him'. The ruling came in a case brought by Mr Habib against Currys, where he was employed between January and March 2023 as a credit support associate at their office in Poole, Dorset. Mr Habib accused his former colleagues of 'cold-shouldering' him following the dispute over his mug, which he claimed amounted to racial discrimination. But his claim was dismissed after a hearing in Southampton, with Judge David Hughes saying that Mr Habib was 'probably very upset' about his mug and noting that 'he can language that is apt to strike others as confrontational, even if he does not intend to be'. The judge said: 'We find that he probably did give his colleagues reason to believe that he viewed the loss of the mug as stealing. We find that this is likely to have caused some resentment towards him.' He added: 'Sad though it is to have to say this, it seems to us to be likely that Mr Habib is, unfortunately, ill-equipped to cope with the nuances of social interaction in the workplace, and lacks the sort of social skills that might have eased tensions that arose around the mug incident.' Mr Habib also alleged that he had been racially discriminated against in his manager's decision to deny him five weeks' of holiday leave to attend weddings in Pakistan, in a request lodged a month after joining the company. But this was rejected by the tribunal, with the judge finding that 'Mr Habib was denied his requested holiday leave on a reasonable application of Currys' policy and practice'. A further claim, that he was sexually harassed by a married colleague who left a bottle of Juice Burst on his desk, which Mr Habib considered to have 'a sexual connotation', was also rejected. However, Mr Habib was awarded three weeks' additional notice pay, with the tribunal rejecting further claims for arrears of pay and bonus payments.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Implying your office colleagues have stolen your work mug when it goes missing will probably come across as 'out of proportion', tribunal rules as worker loses race discrimination case
A Currys employee lost a race discrimination case, after an employment tribunal ruled it would probably have seemed to colleagues 'out of proportion' to infer your co-workers stole your missing mug. Adeel Habib began working as a credit support associate for the electrical giant at an office in Poole, Dorset in January 2023, but he only stayed at the company for under four months. He claimed he was discriminated against when colleagues 'cold shouldered' him after he got 'greatly upset' by someone else taking his cup in March, a hearing in Southampton was told. A co-worker explained that if Mr Habib had left the mug in the kitchen then someone else had probably used it as those cups were seen as communal. After this, she then offered to go around the office with Mr Habib and ask colleagues if they had seen the mug. The support associate said that after this incident he was 'cold shouldered' by his colleagues and claimed at the tribunal that this amounted to race discrimination. The employment tribunal heard his reaction - in which he implied fellow staff were guilty of theft - seemed 'out of proportion'. His race claim against the electrical retail giant was dismissed with the panel finding any 'resentment' towards him was caused by his 'confrontational' attitude to the mug going missing. Employment Judge David Hughes said Mr Habib likely 'caused some resentment' towards him by coming across as 'confrontational' in his search for the mug, implying that it had been stolen. However, he added that it had nothing to do with his race. He added that the associate was 'ill-equipped' to manage the nuances of social interaction in the workplace which could have 'eased tensions'. 'We find that Mr Habib was probably very upset about his mug,' the judge said: 'Just how upset he was probably seemed to his colleagues to be out of proportion to the loss of a mug. 'Mr Habib can use language that is apt to strike others as confrontational, even if he does not intend to be. 'We find that he probably did give his colleagues reason to believe that he viewed the loss of the mug as stealing. 'We find that this is likely to have caused some resentment towards him. 'Sad though it is to have to say this, it seems to us to be likely that Mr Habib is, unfortunately, ill-equipped to cope with the nuances of social interaction in the workplace, and lacks the sort of social skills that might have eased tensions that arose around the mug incident.' Mr Habib also tried to claim that his manager denying him five weeks annual leave to go back to Pakistan for a series of weddings, which he requested just a month into his employment, was race discrimination. The tribunal found that the rejection of his holiday request was not race discrimination and was merely his manager following Currys' standard policy. As well as the race discrimination claims, Mr Habib alleged that during his time at Currys he had been sexually harassed by a female co-worker. However, his allegations were dismissed as 'simply incredible'. At the end of March, Mr Habib was dismissed by Currys and was not given an opportunity to appeal. His unfair dismissal claim was struck out because Mr Habib had not been employed long enough to make that claim. However, he was awarded three weeks' notice pay because there was no mention of a probation period in his notice and therefore he was entitled to one month's notice not one week.
The Independent
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Survey reveals employees' top peeves at work
Slacking colleagues top the list of people's workplace frustrations, according to new research from Acas. A survey of 1,000 workers by the conciliation service revealed that half of those polled cited colleagues not doing their jobs properly as their biggest work-related annoyance. Other grievances included colleagues taking credit for others' work, overbearing bosses, and rude customers or staff. 'Anger over a lack of recognition, rudeness, their boss or a colleague seen as not pulling their weight can impact productivity and escalate to conflict if left unresolved at work,' Acas head of individual dispute resolution Stewart Gee said. 'Unresolved emotions over things that seem unfair can have a detrimental effect at work and it is important for workplace conflict to be addressed at the earliest possible opportunity. 'Acas's aim is to prevent, manage or resolve conflict. An informal resolution through an initial chat or mediation can help organisations prevent the cost and stress of more formal procedures such as an employment tribunal.' Acas recommended that employers encourage staff to raise issues informally, adding that dealing with conflict positively and quickly can build trust and improve relationships. 'Conflict at work is estimated to cost UK organisations £30 billion each year and getting the basics right plays a key part in helping to reduce it,' Mr Gee said. 'Workers can also help. Speaking to a manager early is almost always better than waiting for it to become a larger issue that requires a more formal response. 'This might also avoid costly discipline and grievance procedures.' 'Working hard brought its own reward' In January, Conservative shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Britons must increase their work ethic in order to compete on a global scale. Mr Philp claimed that while working at Sainsbury's, delivering newspapers, and cleaning people's vehicles in his early teens, he cultivated a strong work ethic. "I found that working hard brought its own reward and I've kept doing that ever since,' he said. "It is something I would like to infuse more into our national culture as well." Asked if he thought a belief in hard work was something that was missing in Britain, he replied, "I do a bit." The latest figures show Britain's jobless rate rose unexpectedly and the number of workers on payrolls has fallen by the most since the height of the pandemic.
