One of the largest reducible costs in any organisation is the cost of conflict.

Yet, well managed, conflict is an opportunity for ‘change and growth’. We offer a range of problem-solving and conflict management services to ‘reduce costs’ AND ‘create value’.

Our methodology to managing differences is multi-dimensional, based on research and knowledge developed at some of the world’s leading research centres, and through extensive practical experience. Our approach recognises that conflict can have many sources, such as, structural, cultural, personal, situational, climatic, or design. It can be influenced by surrounds, and is often characterised by high emotions. Once the cause/s of the conflict are accurately identified, we can provide a detailed plan on how to manage its resolution.

We provide professional conflict management services which includes services in the following areas :

Employment Systems and Procedures Audit

When was the last time you reviewed your employment framework? Does it comply with current laws and legislation? Is it effective and efficient in helping your business function?

Out-of-date or ambiguously worded Policies or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) can result in unnecessary and costly conflict or subsequent disputes.

Our audit will examine all employment documents, including employment contracts, review of Awards, Enterprise Agreements, and Policies and Procedures to ensure materials comply with federal and state workplace laws.

At the conclusion of the audit, recommendations are provided that ensure all employment materials comply with federal and state workplace laws, are current and written in a way that is easy to understand. But in addition to compliance, we look for and suggest ways on how to create value within the framework to help you get the best return on investment.

Workplace Bullying and Harassment

What do you think of when you hear ‘workplace bully’? Here are some words we have run across when we have been engaged to help manage workplace bullying and harassment: Toxic workplace culture, blame, fault, finger pointing, gossip, grapevine, serial bully, the queen bee, alpha male, nurses eat their young, standover, thug, workplace sociopath/psychopath, email abusee, emoji abuse, online posts, trolling, poor practice, and many more. Workplace bullying and harassment can cost your organisation time, performance, staff and money. How you manage bullying and harassment at your workplace can result in either improving relationships and productivity, or increase risk to lawsuits and stress. Which outcome would you prefer?

If you are experiencing workplace bullying or harassment in your organisation our specialist guidance and support can assist you to clearly identify the issues at hand and parties involved. We can then work with you and your staff to work through grievances and develop strategies for bringing about change – which can include, dialogue processes to identify what needs to change (including workplace culture) and training. Also see Workshops and Training

Grievance and Complaint System Design

Where do staff go if they want to report a dispute?  How do you manage customer complaints?

If you don’t know there is a problem how can you solve it? Having clear and concise conflict management systems in place can help preserve relationships, provide durable resolution of disputes, preserve confidentiality, reduce the likelihood of litigation and be a way to constantly improve and stay ahead of your competitors.

We can help you design a grievance of complaint management system specifically for your business needs.

Enterprise Bargaining

We provide specialist workplace service and this includes facilitating enterprise bargaining negotiations. Our experience includes: In the private sector – services between national airlines and relevant unions; and in the sugar industry. In the public sector – services between Federal government agencies and relevant unions; and at the State level between government agencies and relevant unions.

Change Management

In addition to the necessary change that comes from mergers, we also provide services in the private sector for companies ‘flattening corporate structures’, and the implementation of ‘teams’ and ‘quality management’ systems. In the public sector, we have helped facilitate major change in education, emergency services and health service delivery.

Strategic Planning

In all three sectors, the private sector, the public sector and the not-for-profit sector, we provide facilitation services to assist organisations to review their current operations and then develop future strategic plans and then operational plans to give effect to the strategic plans.

Joint Venture and/or Mergers

We provide facilitation services to assist with the successful mergers of Local Councils; Mergers of State Government Departments; Mergers of private sector companies; and Mergers between NFP sector entities. 

Industrial Workplace Conflict

With well over 15,000 hours experience in negotiation, mediation, arbitration and investigation services for resolving disputes, we are able to assist you to work through workplace grievances between employers and employees, and employees and supervisors/mangers; workplace conflict between employee groups (both informal and formal groups); and workplace conflict between employees and contractors.