Labour dispute

Last updated on 15 September 2023

If a conflict arises in your workplace, you should always start by trying to work it out with the person with whom you have the problem. If that doesn’t work, you can discuss the conflict with someone else. Don’t leave it too long before asking for help – in order to resolve the conflict quickly and not let it escalate unnecessarily.

Manager

If you’re looking for someone to talk to, your manager can support and advise you. The conflict may in fact be with your manager, in which case you can approach their manager.

If these hierarchical options aren’t working for you, you can contact the HR Advisor, Staff Welfare Officer or ombudsman. If that doesn't help, you can also opt for internal mediation or perhaps the route to the dispute settlement committee is open (see below).

HR Advisor

The HR Advisor can offer you general advice on how best to deal with the conflict.

Staff Welfare Office

The Staff Welfare Officer can help you analyse the conflict from a variety of perspectives, to see which solution is the best fit for your situation and what resources you need to help you work towards that solution. Staff Welfare Officers are bound by professional confidentiality. You can contact them directly.

Ombudsman

Discussions with the ombudsman are also strictly confidential. The ombudsman will help and advise you with analysing, resolving and assessing problems or complaints that arise from things like the incorrect application of regulations. These problems include not keeping promises about training or promotion opportunities, working conditions and other human resource management issues. The ombudsman will always try to resolve a complaint in consultation with you as an employee.

You can also ask the ombudsman to start a formal investigation. The ombudsman will then investigate the complaint and assess it on its merits.

Internal mediation

You can also try to find a solution together with the other person under the guidance of an internal mediator within the organisation.

Trade union

If you have questions about your legal status, if you’re concerned about your employment, if you’d like external help with a labour dispute or an employment-related illness, or if you’re looking for personal external advice on your work and career, we advise you to contact your trade union.

Dispute settlement committee

You can take a dispute with your supervisor to an independent dispute settlement committee if it concerns:

an assessment
changing the position without the employee's consent
refusing a promotion to the functional scale