How to Cope – DeeDee’s Blog

If you like the job you do, your life tends to be much happier. Unfortunately, when the relationship between you and a colleague, or even worse, a superior, at work breaks down, this can cause a significant amount of problems for you. Continue reading for our advice on how you can cope with this, hopefully nipping it in the bud before things progress.

Communication

Sometimes, the reason for a work-related relationship breakdown is a miscommunication. It may be that one party misheard, misunderstood, or simply was not in a reasonable frame of mind on that particular occasion.

Approaching your colleague and asking to have an informal chat about what has happened could clear the air. Of course, there are often times when it is more than a misunderstanding, and in that case, perhaps communicating with them will be a little trickier.

Mediation

As mentioned above, sometimes, a little intervention is necessary. Mediation is an excellent way of doing that. An impartial colleague, preferably someone from leadership, ought to hold a meeting between the two involved parties.

It is essential that they show no bias but guide the discussion to ensure that both people can have their say and justify their thoughts and feelings. Of course, it is not always successful, but sometimes merely having the opportunity to have your voice heard, and for a sufficient period, is enough.

Complaint

If you feel that you have done all you can to smooth things over with this colleague, you ought to involve someone from your management team. Whether it is a formal or informal complaint, ensuring that a colleague with a greater deal of responsibility within your company’s hierarchy knows about the situation is crucial to ensuring you receive adequate support.

Whenever you broach the subject with your manager, for example, try to be precise and remove as much emotive language from your discussion as possible. This can be challenging, but it will allow the bigger picture to be seen much more clearly.

Legal advice

Unfortunately, there are occasions when a relationship breakdown at work can lead to dismissal. This can be due to a number of factors, but often, it is unfair and with a lack of formal justification. If you feel that this is the case, it is vital that you seek professional legal advice.

For wrongful termination of a contract, ensure that you find someone experienced in this area, such as Girard Bengali, APC. Knowing that they have your best interests at heart and are willing to fight to see justice prevail is imperative.

Counseling

The impact that an uncomfortable relationship with a fellow colleague at work can have on your mental health is immense. Sometimes, even years after the event, you can still find yourself struggling to come to terms with what happened or how someone made you feel.

In this case, you may wish to seek the support of a qualified and experienced counselor. Be sure to check for testimonials and qualifications first, otherwise, you may find yourself paying for the services of someone who studied towards a $19 course online.

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