:-SConflict between 2 employees
offadmin
13 Posts
I have 2 secretaries who absolutely can't stand each other but they share a closely confined workspace. One is a legal secretary in training and the other has much experience. Because of the heavy tension, other employees avoid their area at all costs. I've had a meeting with the two of them to air their differences after which they both agreed to call a truce. We are having a follow-up meeting tomorrow. From all indications, things are not any better. Both attorneys involved want to keep their secretary but something has to give. Logistically, it does not make sense to switch either of them with another secretary. If anyone has dealt with this type of situation before and has any good advice, please help me out.
Comments
My $0.02 worth.
DJ The Balloonman
Send them home from the meeting with two assignments. One each to develop a plan as to how they are going to work together without causing office tension. Second, as you are debating wether to retain them an outline of the status of everything they are currently working on so if transition is needed that it will go smoothly.
If they are hourly I would offer to pay for 1 hour of time for the assignment.
That will shock them and get them thinking. I would even make part of the first assignment answering the question: Why should the company keep both of you when you have been told to correct a situation and have failed to show any real progress in that assignment?
My $0.02 worth.
DJ The Balloonman
I like Balloonman's advice. That assumes it is not possible to change your configuration, such as moving the attorneys and the secretaries around to minimize contact. Think of all the trouble that entails and then see if these two secretaries are that valuable to the organization. People do not have to like each other, but they have a duty to work together, and you can require that they not make others uncomfortable with their behavior.
In NY city, there is a free service that provides conflict resolution. I have twice referred ees to it and it has worked wonders. Maybe there is a similar service where you are.
In my case, one of the two secretaries involved was a senior partner's longtime secretary and therefore an "untouchable." I ended up moving them physically to different floors when we did an extensive remodel of our space.
Good luck!