Understanding workplace conflict and its management in the context of COVID-19

Julian Teicher; Bernadine Van Gramberg; Greg J. Bamber

Understanding workplace conflict and its management in the context of COVID-19

Julian Teicher, Bernadine Van Gramberg, Greg J. Bamber

Department of Management

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Arguably, the COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for accelerating and
bringing to the fore a range of emerging (largely individual) disputes between
workers and their employers over issues such as remote working, electronic
surveillance, blurring of work/family boundaries, worker resignations, and
health and safety. This has been a global phenomenon that has been
accompanied by an unusual intrusion into workplaces by governments
seeking public health solutions to curb the pandemic but at the same time
regulating employment arrangements. The pandemic thus offers a rare
opportunity to explore conflict through the viewpoints of those most
affected by the changes. We examine the changing pattern of workplace
conflict and its management since the onset of COVID -19 in a contextually
sensitive manner by adopting neopluralism as an overarching frame of
reference, supplemented by using unitarism and pluralism as lenses through
which to consider conflict and its management. We use the concepts of
agonism and antagonism to provide insights into phenomena such as the
Great Resignation. In considering the changing contours of workplace
conflict, we posit that the way in which conflict is perceived is an important
prerequisite to understanding how it is manifested and how it is likely to
be managed. This is especially important for employers and workers and
their representatives as we consider the post-pandemic future of work in an
age of remote working and health issues (along with pervasive use of artificial
intelligence).

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Evolution of Workplace Dispute Resolution
Subtitle of host publication	International Perspectives
Editors	Ariel C Avgar, Deborah Hann, J. Ryan Lamare , David Nash
Place of Publication	Champaign IL USA
Publisher	Labor and Employment Relations Association
Chapter	5
Pages	73-91
Number of pages	19
Edition	1st
ISBN (Print)	9780913447277
Publication status	Published - 2023
Event	The Labor and Employment Relations Association Annual Meeting: Presidential Luncheon - Detroit, United States of America Duration: 3 Jun 2023 → … Conference number: 75 https://www.leraweb.org/lifetime-achievement-award

Publication series

Name	Labor and Employment Relations Association Series

Conference

Conference	The Labor and Employment Relations Association Annual Meeting
Abbreviated title	LERA
Country/Territory	United States of America
City	Detroit
Period	3/06/23 → …
Internet address	https://www.leraweb.org/lifetime-achievement-award

Keywords

CoVID-19
workplace conflict
Health and safety
neopluralism
frames of reference
unitarism
pluralism
agonism
antagonism
Great Resignation
future of work
artificial intelligence

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Cite this

Teicher, J., Van Gramberg, B., & Bamber, G. J. (2023). Understanding workplace conflict and its management in the context of COVID-19. In A. C. Avgar, D. Hann, J. R. Lamare , & D. Nash (Eds.), The Evolution of Workplace Dispute Resolution: International Perspectives (1st ed., pp. 73-91). (Labor and Employment Relations Association Series). Labor and Employment Relations Association.

Teicher, Julian ; Van Gramberg, Bernadine ; Bamber, Greg J. / Understanding workplace conflict and its management in the context of COVID-19. The Evolution of Workplace Dispute Resolution: International Perspectives. editor / Ariel C Avgar ; Deborah Hann ; J. Ryan Lamare ; David Nash . 1st. ed. Champaign IL USA : Labor and Employment Relations Association, 2023. pp. 73-91 (Labor and Employment Relations Association Series).

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abstract = "Arguably, the COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for accelerating and bringing to the fore a range of emerging (largely individual) disputes between workers and their employers over issues such as remote working, electronic surveillance, blurring of work/family boundaries, worker resignations, and health and safety. This has been a global phenomenon that has been accompanied by an unusual intrusion into workplaces by governments seeking public health solutions to curb the pandemic but at the same time regulating employment arrangements. The pandemic thus offers a rare opportunity to explore conflict through the viewpoints of those most affected by the changes. We examine the changing pattern of workplace conflict and its management since the onset of COVID -19 in a contextually sensitive manner by adopting neopluralism as an overarching frame of reference, supplemented by using unitarism and pluralism as lenses through which to consider conflict and its management. We use the concepts of agonism and antagonism to provide insights into phenomena such as the Great Resignation. In considering the changing contours of workplace conflict, we posit that the way in which conflict is perceived is an important prerequisite to understanding how it is manifested and how it is likely to be managed. This is especially important for employers and workers and their representatives as we consider the post-pandemic future of work in an age of remote working and health issues (along with pervasive use of artificial intelligence).",

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Teicher, J, Van Gramberg, B & Bamber, GJ 2023, Understanding workplace conflict and its management in the context of COVID-19. in AC Avgar, D Hann, JR Lamare & D Nash (eds), The Evolution of Workplace Dispute Resolution: International Perspectives. 1st edn, Labor and Employment Relations Association Series, Labor and Employment Relations Association, Champaign IL USA, pp. 73-91, The Labor and Employment Relations Association Annual Meeting, Detroit, United States of America, 3/06/23.

Understanding workplace conflict and its management in the context of COVID-19. / Teicher, Julian; Van Gramberg, Bernadine; Bamber, Greg J.
The Evolution of Workplace Dispute Resolution: International Perspectives. ed. / Ariel C Avgar; Deborah Hann; J. Ryan Lamare ; David Nash . 1st. ed. Champaign IL USA: Labor and Employment Relations Association, 2023. p. 73-91 (Labor and Employment Relations Association Series).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Understanding workplace conflict and its management in the context of COVID-19

AU - Teicher, Julian

AU - Van Gramberg, Bernadine

AU - Bamber, Greg J.

N1 - Conference code: 75

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Arguably, the COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for accelerating and bringing to the fore a range of emerging (largely individual) disputes between workers and their employers over issues such as remote working, electronic surveillance, blurring of work/family boundaries, worker resignations, and health and safety. This has been a global phenomenon that has been accompanied by an unusual intrusion into workplaces by governments seeking public health solutions to curb the pandemic but at the same time regulating employment arrangements. The pandemic thus offers a rare opportunity to explore conflict through the viewpoints of those most affected by the changes. We examine the changing pattern of workplace conflict and its management since the onset of COVID -19 in a contextually sensitive manner by adopting neopluralism as an overarching frame of reference, supplemented by using unitarism and pluralism as lenses through which to consider conflict and its management. We use the concepts of agonism and antagonism to provide insights into phenomena such as the Great Resignation. In considering the changing contours of workplace conflict, we posit that the way in which conflict is perceived is an important prerequisite to understanding how it is manifested and how it is likely to be managed. This is especially important for employers and workers and their representatives as we consider the post-pandemic future of work in an age of remote working and health issues (along with pervasive use of artificial intelligence).

AB - Arguably, the COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for accelerating and bringing to the fore a range of emerging (largely individual) disputes between workers and their employers over issues such as remote working, electronic surveillance, blurring of work/family boundaries, worker resignations, and health and safety. This has been a global phenomenon that has been accompanied by an unusual intrusion into workplaces by governments seeking public health solutions to curb the pandemic but at the same time regulating employment arrangements. The pandemic thus offers a rare opportunity to explore conflict through the viewpoints of those most affected by the changes. We examine the changing pattern of workplace conflict and its management since the onset of COVID -19 in a contextually sensitive manner by adopting neopluralism as an overarching frame of reference, supplemented by using unitarism and pluralism as lenses through which to consider conflict and its management. We use the concepts of agonism and antagonism to provide insights into phenomena such as the Great Resignation. In considering the changing contours of workplace conflict, we posit that the way in which conflict is perceived is an important prerequisite to understanding how it is manifested and how it is likely to be managed. This is especially important for employers and workers and their representatives as we consider the post-pandemic future of work in an age of remote working and health issues (along with pervasive use of artificial intelligence).

KW - CoVID-19

KW - workplace conflict

KW - Health and safety

KW - neopluralism

KW - frames of reference

KW - unitarism

KW - pluralism

KW - agonism

KW - antagonism

KW - Great Resignation

KW - future of work

KW - artificial intelligence

UR - https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9780913447277/the-evolution-of-workplace-dispute-resolution/#bookTabs=1

M3 - Chapter (Book)

SN - 9780913447277

T3 - Labor and Employment Relations Association Series

SP - 73

EP - 91

BT - The Evolution of Workplace Dispute Resolution

A2 - Avgar, Ariel C

A2 - Hann, Deborah

A2 - Lamare , J. Ryan

A2 - Nash , David

PB - Labor and Employment Relations Association

CY - Champaign IL USA

T2 - The Labor and Employment Relations Association Annual Meeting

Y2 - 3 June 2023

ER -

Teicher J, Van Gramberg B, Bamber GJ. Understanding workplace conflict and its management in the context of COVID-19. In Avgar AC, Hann D, Lamare JR, Nash D, editors, The Evolution of Workplace Dispute Resolution: International Perspectives. 1st ed. Champaign IL USA: Labor and Employment Relations Association. 2023. p. 73-91. (Labor and Employment Relations Association Series).

Understanding workplace conflict and its management in the context of COVID-19

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

Other files and links

Employee voice, intention to quit, and conflict resolution: evidence from Australia

Conflict management in Australia

Efficiency, Justice and Voice: A Study of Effective Ways to Prevent and Settle Workplace Disputes

The Labor and Employment Relations Association Annual Meeting (Event)

International Webinar: Building a New Social Contract

Lifetime Achievement Award

Cite this

Understanding workplace conflict and its management in the context of COVID-19

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

Other files and links

Research output

Employee voice, intention to quit, and conflict resolution: evidence from Australia

Conflict management in Australia

Projects

Efficiency, Justice and Voice: A Study of Effective Ways to Prevent and Settle Workplace Disputes

Activities

The Labor and Employment Relations Association Annual Meeting (Event)

International Webinar: Building a New Social Contract

Prizes

Lifetime Achievement Award

Cite this