You, as manager, need to do your best to make sure your department is running like a well-oiled "team-machine." However, just when you think everything is going along smoothly and under control, the inevitable conflicts, disagreements, and differences of opinion start to escalate, and harmony within the team is disrupted. There might be legal consequences in certain situations. In some cases, it's time to fire the individual.

Your job as manager goes beyond just making sure you hit the numbers. You sometimes need to be a counsellor or mediator. In most cases, using good old common sense will get you through the issue at hand. You should be the first line of defence, as you might be able to handle the situation by just listening and showing some compassion. You should, however, never be afraid to ask for HR's help whenever needed.

This paper will deal with all these issues and more.

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