Resolving Workplace Conflicts: General - Refusing to Follow Procedures (PDF)

Conflict tends to have a negative connotation based on our experiences, but it does not have to be this way. When we seek to understand, we communicate that we care enough to work through difficult situations and determine how to make things better to reduce stress, promote communication and enhance teamwork.

It's bad enough when an employee refuses to follow work procedures, taking shortcuts or ignoring policies, processes, procedures and/or protocols. It takes it to a whole new level when the employee influences coworkers to do the same. Safety may be compromised; regulatory compliance may be compromised, and resultant costs may be substantial. If supervision and management are encouraging shortcuts or non-compliance due to equipment failures, being short-staffed, or lack of funding, this needs to be determined and addressed even if operational changes and reorganization might be necessary.

With this tool you get the following:

•  The effects of refusing to follow work procedures on team members.
•  Considerations for why an individual refuses to follow work procedures.
•  Numerous solutions for improvement.
•  Ideas for negotiating/adjusting solutions.
•  Potential barriers and ways to overcome them to achieve resolution.
•  Implementation timeframe.
•  Follow-up review commitments.

Additionally, we provide a blank, editable Conflict Resolution Worksheet and the Worksheet Guidelines providing a step-by-step process for addressing your own workplace conflicts.