{"id":35449,"date":"2024-04-30T09:34:45","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T23:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/conflict-resolution-and-workplace-mediation\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T06:42:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T06:42:47","slug":"conflict-resolution-and-workplace-mediation","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/conflict-resolution-and-workplace-mediation\/","title":{"rendered":"Conflict resolution strategies &amp; workplace mediation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull resource-sticky-downloadable-template has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull blog-template-header has-light-violet-50-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div style=\"--bb--crumb-gap:.4em;\" class=\"blog-template-breadcrumb wp-block-employmentherocom2025-breadcrumb-block\"><nav role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb-items\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item breadcrumb-item--current breadcrumb-item--home\"><span class=\"breadcrumb-item-name\">Home<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"item\":{\"name\":\"Home\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/employmenthero.com\\\/nz\\\/\"}}]}<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-template-tags-row is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--9)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-template-tags is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-ghost is-style-ghost--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-btn-black-background-color has-background wp-element-button has-icon__eye\"><span class=\"wp-block-button__link-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"20\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"> <g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_5893_17419)\"> <path d=\"M19.8727 9.55732C19.7127 9.30315 15.8927 3.33398 10.0002 3.33398C4.10771 3.33398 0.287713 9.30315 0.127713 9.55732C0.0442677 9.69013 0 9.8438 0 10.0007C0 10.1575 0.0442677 10.3112 0.127713 10.444C0.287713 10.6982 4.10771 16.6673 10.0002 16.6673C15.8927 16.6673 19.7127 10.6982 19.8727 10.444C19.9562 10.3112 20.0004 10.1575 20.0004 10.0007C20.0004 9.8438 19.9562 9.69013 19.8727 9.55732ZM10.0002 15.0007C5.88605 15.0007 2.80271 11.299 1.84855 10.0007C3.12342 8.22835 4.79779 6.78123 6.73605 5.77648C6.15544 6.50283 5.83739 7.40411 5.83355 8.33398C5.83355 9.43905 6.27253 10.4989 7.05394 11.2803C7.83534 12.0617 8.89514 12.5007 10.0002 12.5007C11.1053 12.5007 12.1651 12.0617 12.9465 11.2803C13.7279 10.4989 14.1669 9.43905 14.1669 8.33398C14.1629 7.40674 13.8468 6.50785 13.2694 5.78232C15.2033 6.78886 16.8752 8.23337 18.1519 10.0007C17.201 11.3015 14.1277 15.0007 10.0002 15.0007Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/> <\/g> <defs> <clipPath id=\"clip0_5893_17419\"> <rect width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"white\"\/> <\/clipPath> <\/defs> <\/svg><\/span>Guide<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--0-5);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--0-5)\" class=\"taxonomy-topic eh-topics-separate wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/blog\/topic\/compliance-legal\/\" rel=\"tag\">Compliance &amp; Legal<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group social-icons-mobile is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2)\"><div \n    class=\"eh-social-sharing-button wp-block-employmentherocom2025-eh-social-sharing-button\" data-icon=\"facebook\" data-social-type=\"facebook\">\n    <span style=\"display: flex;\">\n        <svg class=\"icon\" width=\"24px\" height=\"24px\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"> <title>Group<\/title> <path d=\"M14.4446 6.47609H11.4173V4.40033C11.4173 3.62078 11.9115 3.43904 12.2596 3.43904C12.6068 3.43904 14.3958 3.43904 14.3958 3.43904V0.0120058L11.4537 0C8.18772 0 7.44447 2.55599 7.44447 4.19168V6.47609H5.55566V10.0075H7.44447C7.44447 14.5394 7.44447 20 7.44447 20H11.4173C11.4173 20 11.4173 14.4856 11.4173 10.0075H14.0981L14.4446 6.47609Z\"><\/path><\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div \n    class=\"eh-social-sharing-button wp-block-employmentherocom2025-eh-social-sharing-button\" data-icon=\"twitter\" data-social-type=\"twitter\">\n    <span style=\"display: flex;\">\n        <svg class=\"icon\" width=\"17\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 17 18\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"> <g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_2187_1527)\"> <path d=\"M6.88269 10.3821L0.554058 18H2.05374L7.54889 11.3855L11.9379 18H17L10.363 7.99774L17 0.00924304H15.5002L9.69721 6.99436L5.06215 0.00924304H-5.51343e-07L6.88306 10.3821H6.88269ZM8.93683 7.90961L9.60929 8.90561L14.9598 16.8309H12.6563L8.33833 10.4349L7.66587 9.43894L2.05303 1.12518H4.35659L8.93683 7.90923V7.90961Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path> <\/g> <defs> <clipPath id=\"clip0_2187_1527\"> <rect width=\"17\" height=\"18\" fill=\"white\" transform=\"matrix(-1 0 0 -1 17 18)\"><\/rect> <\/clipPath> <\/defs> <\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div \n    class=\"eh-social-sharing-button wp-block-employmentherocom2025-eh-social-sharing-button\" data-icon=\"linkedin\" data-social-type=\"linkedin\">\n    <span style=\"display: flex;\">\n        <svg class=\"icon\" width=\"17px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 17 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"> <title>Shape<\/title> <g id=\"Symbols\" stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"> <g id=\"Icons\/Social\" transform=\"translate(-74.000000, -2.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"> <path d=\"M74.2155762,7.20409322 L77.8588786,7.20409322 L77.8588786,18 L74.2155762,18 L74.2155762,7.20409322 Z M76.0616143,2 C74.8146643,2 74,2.80609002 74,3.86411056 C74,4.90036967 74.7908238,5.72989508 76.0139333,5.72989508 L76.0371667,5.72989508 C77.3079571,5.72989508 78.0993476,4.90032981 78.0993476,3.86411056 C78.0755071,2.80609002 77.3079976,2 76.0616143,2 Z M86.8041976,6.95048874 C84.8702857,6.95048874 84.0038929,7.99790755 83.5205667,8.73245583 L83.5205667,7.20409322 L79.8761714,7.20409322 C79.924419,8.21687707 79.8761714,18 79.8761714,18 L83.5205667,18 L83.5205667,11.9708054 C83.5205667,11.6478911 83.5444071,11.3261725 83.6402952,11.0948476 C83.9041595,10.4502147 84.5037738,9.78266458 85.5095667,9.78266458 C86.8291714,9.78266458 87.3561714,10.773129 87.3561714,12.2237722 L87.3561714,18 L91,18 L91,11.8093881 C91,8.49339883 89.2027762,6.95048874 86.8041976,6.95048874 Z\" id=\"Shape\"><\/path> <\/g> <\/g> <\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div \n    class=\"eh-social-sharing-button wp-block-employmentherocom2025-eh-social-sharing-button\" data-icon=\"link\" data-social-type=\"copy\">\n    <span style=\"display: flex;\">\n        <svg class=\"icon\" width=\"18\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 19\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path transform=\"translate(6.640285, 0)\" d=\"M9.6365839,1.06427739 L9.6365839,1.06407143 C7.63313006,-0.581342526 4.71799441,-0.287025772 3.06469376,1.72767436 L1.68152847,3.42787366 C1.2637913,3.94153775 1.3305731,4.70585509 1.8305341,5.13486964 C2.33069565,5.56409016 3.0749216,5.4955055 3.49265877,4.98184141 L4.8760246,3.28143615 C5.71089731,2.25863908 7.1949372,2.1243532 8.19104884,2.98176443 C8.20769415,2.99597567 8.22413891,3.01059882 8.24038313,3.02522198 C9.18174573,3.92361924 9.26838157,5.42383144 8.43691815,6.43015171 L5.5610895,9.96627791 L5.53461744,9.99634806 C5.38079871,10.1792405 5.20090901,10.3370058 5.00076417,10.4640831 C4.04676718,11.0718709 2.80719278,10.901748 2.04211006,10.0579301 C1.59709864,9.56877523 0.850065046,9.54303024 0.374169553,10.0002613 C-0.100522665,10.4562566 -0.127195273,11.2205739 0.315008503,11.7099348 C1.3991598,12.9045024 2.99670869,13.4575049 4.56377459,13.1800768 C4.80503134,13.1364133 5.04287882,13.0742134 5.27470991,12.9934771 C6.09434113,12.7094584 6.82152068,12.1980598 7.37542854,11.5155086 L10.2440375,7.98947441 C11.0680808,6.96832503 11.4617524,5.65182909 11.3372134,4.33183184 C11.2235039,3.05137889 10.6100339,1.87267016 9.6365839,1.06427739\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><path transform=\"translate(0, 5.762765)\" d=\"M7.78481199,8.39527139 L6.54864687,9.91484383 C5.73222439,10.9339336 4.27946967,11.1129128 3.25127068,10.3214088 C2.2300908,9.49612727 2.05361038,7.97696676 2.85719793,6.92821874 C2.87083505,6.91050619 2.88447217,6.89299959 2.89851039,6.87569896 L5.82387388,3.27984437 L5.84553284,3.25492322 C5.99915102,3.07203079 6.17924127,2.91447144 6.37938611,2.78739415 C7.23972815,2.23645131 8.34754387,2.31595185 9.12506044,2.98449782 C9.2157072,3.06235067 9.30073868,3.14700021 9.37915214,3.23782854 C9.60657122,3.50207514 9.93486491,3.6513961 10.2784001,3.64665902 C10.6175233,3.64171598 10.9377951,3.48498047 11.155588,3.21764447 L11.1696262,3.20034383 C11.5426416,2.74620216 11.5342187,2.07930388 11.1497722,1.63546021 C9.42768425,-0.367088286 6.45118155,-0.55698335 4.50107292,1.21159465 C4.32298813,1.37306725 4.15713665,1.54813319 4.00472174,1.73555674 L1.08738009,5.32173121 C-0.548874157,7.35084854 -0.312430505,10.3492133 1.62043117,12.0813364 C2.56821124,12.921447 3.80678291,13.3317192 5.05377751,13.2188532 C5.20097822,13.2064956 5.34697566,13.1875473 5.49176982,13.1613904 C6.61362375,12.9593437 7.63039162,12.3585585 8.36398864,11.4636626 L9.59594229,9.94923914 C10.0136795,9.43578101 9.94709821,8.67146367 9.44693666,8.24224316 C8.94677511,7.81302264 8.20254916,7.8816073 7.78481199,8.39527139\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n            <span class=\"eh-social-sharing-button__copied_text\">\n            URL copied for sharing!        <\/span>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title-mobile has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><h2 class=\"blog-template-title wp-block-post-title\">Conflict resolution strategies &amp; workplace mediation<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-sm-font-size\">Published<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date has-sm-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2024-04-30T09:34:45+00:00\">30 Apr 2024<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns content-flex is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:55%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group sticky-downloadable-title has-light-violet-50-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-10 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--24)\"><h1 class=\"blog-template-title wp-block-post-title\">Conflict resolution strategies &amp; workplace mediation<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-sm-font-size\">Published<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date has-sm-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2024-04-30T09:34:45+00:00\">30 Apr 2024<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content-wrapper has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">An ideal workplace is one where the whole team gets along, where harmony prevails and where communication and camaraderie rule the day. Unfortunately, that isn\u2019t always the case. Every team includes a mix of different personalities and working styles, and sometimes that can lead to a clash. So what can you do when there\u2019s conflict in your business?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">It turns out, there is plenty you can do to try and regain some peace in the team. Start with our guide, which sets out key strategies for managing conflict. Should those fail, we\u2019ll take you through the workplace mediation process as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Our guide covers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark\">\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Understanding conflict<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">The impact of conflict<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Conflict management strategies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">The workplace mediation process<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Warnings and disciplinary actions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Preventative action at work<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><strong>Download the guide by filling in the form on the right.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"819\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/conflict-resolution-preview-1024x819.webp\" alt=\"Conflict resolution preview\" class=\"wp-image-56049\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/conflict-resolution-preview-1024x819.webp 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/conflict-resolution-preview-300x240.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/conflict-resolution-preview-768x614.webp 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/conflict-resolution-preview-440x352.webp 440w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/conflict-resolution-preview.webp 1350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding workplace conflict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Before you can resolve conflict you need to understand what it is and where it comes from. It\u2019s not just about arguments or heated discussions. Conflict can be subtle, simmering under the surface and manifesting as passive aggression, reduced cooperation or a general sense of tension.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Disagreements can stem from many sources and recognising the type of conflict is the first step toward finding the right solution. Without a clear understanding you risk addressing only the symptoms, not the underlying problem, which means the issue is likely to resurface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is workplace conflict?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">At its core, workplace conflict is any disagreement or dispute between two or more people within a professional setting. It can range from a simple difference of opinion over how to approach a task, to more serious issues like perceived bullying or harassment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">For example, a conflict might arise when two team members in a tech company have disagreed on how a shared task should be executed. Or it could be a disagreement between a manager and an employee in a retail store about performance expectations and rostered hours. These situations, if not handled well, can disrupt workflow, damage relationships and poison the team atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Conflict isn&#8217;t always negative. Healthy debate and differing perspectives can lead to better ideas and innovation. The problem arises when disagreement becomes personal, destructive, or is left to fester without a clear path to resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common types of workplace conflict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Most conflicts you\u2019ll encounter will fall into a few common categories. Identifying the type of conflict can help you tailor your approach to resolving it more effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Personality clashes&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">This is perhaps the most common source of conflict. It happens when employees have fundamentally different communication styles, values or working approaches that create persistent tension. One team member might be direct and fast-paced, while another is more reflective and cautious. Without mutual understanding this difference can be misinterpreted as one person being aggressive and the other being slow or uncooperative, leading to friction and resentment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Role ambiguity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Conflict often occurs when job responsibilities are unclear or overlapping. If two employees believe they are responsible for the same task or if a critical task has no clear owner, disputes are bound to happen. For instance, if a marketing coordinator and a sales executive both believe it&#8217;s their job to approve final campaign messaging, it can lead to power struggles and confusion. This is particularly common in fast-growing businesses where roles evolve quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resource disputes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">In any organisation resources like budget, equipment, or even people\u2019s time are finite. Disputes can arise when teams or individuals must compete for these limited resources. A classic example is two department heads vying for the same slice of the annual budget, each believing their projects are the top priority. This creates a win-lose dynamic that can foster inter-departmental rivalry and undermine company-wide goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remote team miscommunication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">With the rise of flexible and remote work, miscommunication has become a significant source of conflict. Without the benefit of face-to-face cues like body language and tone of voice it\u2019s easy for messages in emails or chat platforms to be misinterpreted. A brief direct message intended to be efficient can come across as abrupt or dismissive. These small misunderstandings can quickly escalate into larger feelings of disrespect or exclusion if not addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The impact of unresolved conflict in the workplace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Ignoring conflict doesn\u2019t make it go away. It\u2019s like a small water leak that, if left unattended, can cause significant structural damage over time. The consequences of unresolved issues can ripple through your entire business, impacting everything from daily operations to your bottom line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Productivity takes an immediate hit. Employees involved in a conflict spend valuable time and mental energy worrying about the situation, discussing it with colleagues or actively avoiding the other person. This distraction pulls their focus away from their work, leading to missed deadlines and lower-quality output. The negative atmosphere can also spread to the wider team, causing a general drop in motivation and engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Team morale can plummet. A tense work environment where disagreements simmer beneath the surface is emotionally draining for everyone. It erodes trust and makes collaboration difficult. Good employees who value a positive and supportive culture may start to disengage. This often leads to an increased employee turnover risk.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Losing talented people is costly, not just in terms of recruitment expenses but also in the loss of institutional knowledge and experience. <a href=\"https:\/\/sloanreview.mit.edu\/article\/toxic-culture-is-driving-the-great-resignation\/\">Recent data<\/a> shows that a toxic workplace culture is a major driver of resignations and unresolved conflict is a key ingredient in that toxicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Perhaps most seriously for a business, unresolved conflict can create significant legal exposure. What starts as a personality clash can escalate into allegations of bullying, harassment or discrimination. This could lead to a <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/personal-grievance-and-unjustified-dismissal-claims\/\">personal grievance claim<\/a>, creating considerable legal costs, reputational damage and management distraction. Following fair and proper processes from the outset is your best defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Effective conflict resolution strategies for HR managers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">As an HR manager or business leader you are in a unique position to guide your teams through disagreements constructively. Adopting a proactive and structured approach can make all the difference. Here are seven effective strategies to resolve workplace conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Address issues early and directly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">The longer a conflict is left to fester, the more entrenched the positions become and the harder it is to resolve. Encourage employees and managers to address minor issues as they arise and before they escalate. This might mean coaching a manager on how to have a difficult conversation or facilitating a brief informal chat between two colleagues. Prompt and direct communication can often resolve misunderstandings before they turn into major problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Create a safe space for open dialogue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">For any meaningful resolution to occur, people need to feel safe to express their concerns without fear of punishment or judgment. As an HR leader you can facilitate this by establishing a confidential and neutral environment. This means setting up meetings in a private space, ensuring discussions remain confidential and actively moderating the conversation to ensure it stays respectful. When employees trust the process they are more likely to engage honestly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Actively listen and acknowledge different perspectives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">One of the most important roles you can play in conflict resolution is that of an active listener. This goes beyond simply hearing the words being said. It involves paying attention to non-verbal cues, asking clarifying questions and summarising what you\u2019ve heard to ensure you understand. Make sure each person has a chance to share their side of the story without interruption. Acknowledging their feelings and perspective by saying things like \u201cI can see why you would feel that way\u201d validates their experience and helps to de-escalate emotions, even if you don\u2019t agree with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Focus on interests, not positions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">People often enter a conflict with a fixed position \u2013 for example, \u201cI want my desk moved to the other side of the office.\u201d Getting stuck on these positions can lead to a stalemate. A more effective approach is to uncover the underlying interests or needs behind those positions by asking \u201cWhy do you want that?\u201d The employee might say \u201cBecause I can\u2019t concentrate with the noise from the kitchen.\u201d Their interest isn\u2019t the desk itself but a quieter workspace. Once you understand the underlying interests you can explore a wider range of solutions, like providing noise-cancelling headphones or establishing quiet zones that might satisfy both parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Collaborate on mutually beneficial solutions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of conflict resolution should be to find a win-win outcome, not for one person to win at the other\u2019s expense. Guide the involved parties to brainstorm potential solutions together. Encourage creativity and an open mind. By working collaboratively everyone feels a sense of ownership over the final agreement, making them more likely to stick to it. Your role is to facilitate this process, helping them evaluate the pros and cons of each option and find common ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Establish clear expectations and follow-up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Once a solution has been agreed upon it\u2019s crucial to make sure everyone understands the next steps and their individual responsibilities. Document the agreed actions clearly. What will each person do differently? By when? How will you measure success? This clarity prevents future misunderstandings. It\u2019s also important to schedule a follow-up meeting, perhaps in a week or two, to check in on progress and ensure the agreement is holding up. This shows you are committed to a lasting resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Bring in a neutral mediator when needed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes a conflict is too complex or emotionally charged to be resolved internally. If you\u2019ve tried to facilitate a resolution and are not making progress or if you feel your own neutrality is compromised it may be time to bring in a professional. A neutral third-party mediator can bring a fresh perspective and specialised skills to help guide the parties toward a resolution. This is not a sign of failure but a sensible step toward resolving a difficult situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The workplace mediation process in New Zealand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Mediation is a formal, structured, yet flexible process where a neutral person helps parties in a dispute to find a solution on their own terms. It\u2019s a very common and effective step for resolving employment relationship problems in New Zealand, often preventing the need for more costly and adversarial legal action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Determine if mediation is appropriate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Mediation is most effective when both parties are willing to participate in good faith to find a resolution. It\u2019s a voluntary process so you can\u2019t force an employee to attend, although a refusal might be viewed unfavourably later on. Mediation may not be suitable for issues involving serious misconduct, like theft or violence, that require a formal investigation and potential disciplinary action. It\u2019s best for disputes where there is room for negotiation and a desire to repair the working relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Choose an internal or external mediator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">You can use a trained internal manager or HR professional as a mediator, provided they are seen as neutral by all parties. However for more complex or sensitive issues an external mediator is often the better choice. In New Zealand, the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.employment.govt.nz\/resolving-problems\/steps-to-resolve\/mediation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE)<\/a> offers a free mediation service for employment disputes. You can also hire an independent mediator from a professional body like the Resolution Institute. An external mediator brings impartiality and expertise which can increase the parties\u2019 confidence in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Set clear ground rules and objectives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">The mediation will typically begin with the mediator explaining their role and the process. They will set clear ground rules for the discussion, such as speaking respectfully, not interrupting and keeping the discussions confidential. The mediator will also work with the parties to clarify the objectives of the mediation. What do they hope to achieve? This ensures everyone is working toward the same goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4: Facilitate constructive dialogue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">The mediator then guides the conversation, allowing each person to explain their perspective and what they want to achieve. The mediator might meet with the parties together and also separately in private caucuses. In these private sessions, parties can speak more freely to the mediator who can then test potential solutions and options without committing either party. The mediator uses their skills to reframe issues, manage emotions and keep the dialogue focused and constructive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 5: Agree on actions and next steps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Through this facilitated discussion the mediator helps the parties identify common ground and work toward a mutually acceptable agreement. The focus is on finding practical, forward-looking solutions. This agreement will outline the specific actions each person will take to resolve the issues and move forward. For example, it could include changes to work arrangements or an apology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 6: Document outcomes and follow up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">If an agreement is reached, the mediator will help the parties document it in a signed settlement agreement. This document makes the terms of the resolution clear and, if worded correctly, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.employment.govt.nz\/assets\/uploads\/documents\/resolving-problems\/mediation-terms-of-engagement.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">can be legally binding<\/a>. It provides certainty and closure for everyone involved. It\u2019s also good practice for the business to follow up internally to ensure the terms of the agreement are being implemented and that the working relationship is improving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Managing escalated conflicts: Warnings and disciplinary actions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Sometimes conflict goes beyond a simple disagreement and <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/handle-workplace-misconduct\/\">crosses the line into misconduct<\/a> or a serious breach of company policy. This could include behaviour like bullying, harassment, refusing to follow a reasonable management instruction or a breach of your health and safety policy. In these situations informal resolution may not be enough and a more formal process is necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">When misconduct is alleged, your obligation as an employer is to handle it fairly and in line with New Zealand employment law. This typically involves a <a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/disciplinary-process-new-zealand\/\">disciplinary process<\/a>. This process must be procedurally fair, which means investigating the allegations thoroughly, giving the employee a chance to respond and considering their explanation before making any decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Depending on the seriousness of the misconduct, the outcome could range from a formal warning to, in the most serious cases, dismissal. Following a fair and proper process is crucial. Any failure to do so can leave you vulnerable to a personal grievance claim for unjustified disadvantage or unjustified dismissal, even if the misconduct itself was real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><strong>Remember that this isn\u2019t legal advice \u2013 if you have any doubts, concerns or questions about handling misconduct, we\u2019d highly recommend that you seek independent legal counsel<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preventing workplace conflicts before they arise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">While knowing how to manage conflict is essential, the best approach is always to prevent it from happening in the first place. Building a positive workplace culture where disagreements are handled constructively can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Proactive strategies are your best defence. They include things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><strong>Clear job descriptions and expectations,<\/strong> so everyone knows what their role is and what they are accountable for, reducing the chance of role ambiguity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><strong>A strong communication culture,<\/strong> where open honest and respectful feedback is the norm. This encourages people to raise concerns early before they escalate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><strong>Regular team check-ins<\/strong> and one-on-one meetings, which give managers the opportunity to check the pulse of the team and address potential issues proactively.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><strong>Training managers in conflict resolution skills<\/strong> so they have the confidence and competence to handle issues within their teams effectively, without needing to escalate everything to HR.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><strong>Encouraging psychological safety <\/strong>\u2013 an environment where employees feel safe to take interpersonal risks, speak up with ideas and concerns and be vulnerable without fear of negative consequences.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Build a positive workplace culture with effective conflict resolution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\">Managing workplace conflict effectively is not just about solving problems as they arise. It\u2019s about building a resilient culture of respect, communication and collaboration. By addressing issues early, training your managers and having clear consistent processes you can turn potential disputes into opportunities for individual and team growth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-paragraph-2-m-font-size\"><strong>For more information on conflict resolution, download our guide by filling in the form on the right.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#form\">Download the guide<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-neutral-500-color has-text-color has-link-color has-xs-font-size wp-elements-7d6b19276e0f7861895744dcb8e02531\"><em><em><em>The information in this article is current as at 30 December 2025, and has been prepared by 91±¬ΑΟ Pty Ltd (ABN 11 160 047 709) and its related bodies corporate (91±¬ΑΟ). The views expressed in this article are general information only, are provided in good faith to assist employers and their employees, and should not be relied on as professional advice. Some information is based on data supplied by third parties. While such data is believed to be accurate, it has not been independently verified and no warranties are given that it is complete, accurate, up to date or fit for the purpose for which it is required. 91±¬ΑΟ does not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy in such data and is not liable for any loss or damages arising directly or indirectly as a result of reliance on, use of or inability to use any information provided in this article. You should undertake your own research and seek professional advice before making any decisions or relying on the information in this article.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column form-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div id=\"form\" class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group form-v2-violet-box-shadow-pattern is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-employmentherocom2025-marketo-form-v2 is-layout-flow wp-block-marketo-form-v2-is-layout-flow\">\n                                                            <section class=\"eh_marketo_form-title-section eh_marketo_form-title-section--small\" aria-labelledby=\"marketo-form-title\">\n        <div class=\"eh_marketo_form-title-container\">\n                                        <h2 id=\"marketo-form-title\" class=\"eh_marketo_form-title\">Register for the guide<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n            <\/section>\n                            <div class=\"eh_marketo_form-container_v2\" data-marketo-form=\"{&quot;is_multi_steps&quot;:false,&quot;form_data&quot;:[{&quot;base_url&quot;:&quot;\/\/hr.employmenthero.io&quot;,&quot;munchkin_id&quot;:&quot;387-SZZ-170&quot;,&quot;form_id&quot;:&quot;1737&quot;,&quot;css_classes&quot;:&quot;&quot;}],&quot;submit_text&quot;:&quot;Download now&quot;,&quot;success_handling_method&quot;:&quot;thank_you_page&quot;,&quot;redirect_url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;thank_you_message&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;add_lead_linking_id&quot;:false,&quot;add_drift_campaign_id&quot;:false,&quot;drift_campaign_id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;thank_you_page_id&quot;:&quot;41811&quot;,&quot;thank_you_page_url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/thank-you\/downloadable\/resources\/?origin=conflict-resolution-and-workplace-mediation&amp;origin_id=D27Y5A8OS8lx%2Fu1aFLFXg%2FZB0HKcuuxqay8tm7RTe4rTQIgSR2pUU1YarM3SEhrd6vVV3JBQGZ9%2B1cnbN5qJUA%3D%3D&quot;,&quot;progress_indicator_type&quot;:&quot;progress-bar&quot;,&quot;enable_revenue_hero&quot;:false,&quot;revenue_hero_router_id&quot;:&quot;4668&quot;,&quot;revenue_hero_thank_you_message&quot;:&quot;Thank you for booking!&quot;}\"><\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group social-icons-desktop is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-13 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--2);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--4);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--4)\"><div \n    class=\"eh-social-sharing-button wp-block-employmentherocom2025-eh-social-sharing-button\" data-icon=\"facebook\" data-social-type=\"facebook\">\n    <span style=\"display: flex;\">\n        <svg class=\"icon\" width=\"24px\" height=\"24px\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"> <title>Group<\/title> <path d=\"M14.4446 6.47609H11.4173V4.40033C11.4173 3.62078 11.9115 3.43904 12.2596 3.43904C12.6068 3.43904 14.3958 3.43904 14.3958 3.43904V0.0120058L11.4537 0C8.18772 0 7.44447 2.55599 7.44447 4.19168V6.47609H5.55566V10.0075H7.44447C7.44447 14.5394 7.44447 20 7.44447 20H11.4173C11.4173 20 11.4173 14.4856 11.4173 10.0075H14.0981L14.4446 6.47609Z\"><\/path><\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div \n    class=\"eh-social-sharing-button wp-block-employmentherocom2025-eh-social-sharing-button\" data-icon=\"twitter\" data-social-type=\"twitter\">\n    <span style=\"display: flex;\">\n        <svg class=\"icon\" width=\"17\" height=\"18\" viewBox=\"0 0 17 18\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"> <g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_2187_1527)\"> <path d=\"M6.88269 10.3821L0.554058 18H2.05374L7.54889 11.3855L11.9379 18H17L10.363 7.99774L17 0.00924304H15.5002L9.69721 6.99436L5.06215 0.00924304H-5.51343e-07L6.88306 10.3821H6.88269ZM8.93683 7.90961L9.60929 8.90561L14.9598 16.8309H12.6563L8.33833 10.4349L7.66587 9.43894L2.05303 1.12518H4.35659L8.93683 7.90923V7.90961Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path> <\/g> <defs> <clipPath id=\"clip0_2187_1527\"> <rect width=\"17\" height=\"18\" fill=\"white\" transform=\"matrix(-1 0 0 -1 17 18)\"><\/rect> <\/clipPath> <\/defs> <\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div \n    class=\"eh-social-sharing-button wp-block-employmentherocom2025-eh-social-sharing-button\" data-icon=\"linkedin\" data-social-type=\"linkedin\">\n    <span style=\"display: flex;\">\n        <svg class=\"icon\" width=\"17px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 17 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"> <title>Shape<\/title> <g id=\"Symbols\" stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"> <g id=\"Icons\/Social\" transform=\"translate(-74.000000, -2.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"> <path d=\"M74.2155762,7.20409322 L77.8588786,7.20409322 L77.8588786,18 L74.2155762,18 L74.2155762,7.20409322 Z M76.0616143,2 C74.8146643,2 74,2.80609002 74,3.86411056 C74,4.90036967 74.7908238,5.72989508 76.0139333,5.72989508 L76.0371667,5.72989508 C77.3079571,5.72989508 78.0993476,4.90032981 78.0993476,3.86411056 C78.0755071,2.80609002 77.3079976,2 76.0616143,2 Z M86.8041976,6.95048874 C84.8702857,6.95048874 84.0038929,7.99790755 83.5205667,8.73245583 L83.5205667,7.20409322 L79.8761714,7.20409322 C79.924419,8.21687707 79.8761714,18 79.8761714,18 L83.5205667,18 L83.5205667,11.9708054 C83.5205667,11.6478911 83.5444071,11.3261725 83.6402952,11.0948476 C83.9041595,10.4502147 84.5037738,9.78266458 85.5095667,9.78266458 C86.8291714,9.78266458 87.3561714,10.773129 87.3561714,12.2237722 L87.3561714,18 L91,18 L91,11.8093881 C91,8.49339883 89.2027762,6.95048874 86.8041976,6.95048874 Z\" id=\"Shape\"><\/path> <\/g> <\/g> <\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div \n    class=\"eh-social-sharing-button wp-block-employmentherocom2025-eh-social-sharing-button\" data-icon=\"link\" data-social-type=\"copy\">\n    <span style=\"display: flex;\">\n        <svg class=\"icon\" width=\"18\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 19\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path transform=\"translate(6.640285, 0)\" d=\"M9.6365839,1.06427739 L9.6365839,1.06407143 C7.63313006,-0.581342526 4.71799441,-0.287025772 3.06469376,1.72767436 L1.68152847,3.42787366 C1.2637913,3.94153775 1.3305731,4.70585509 1.8305341,5.13486964 C2.33069565,5.56409016 3.0749216,5.4955055 3.49265877,4.98184141 L4.8760246,3.28143615 C5.71089731,2.25863908 7.1949372,2.1243532 8.19104884,2.98176443 C8.20769415,2.99597567 8.22413891,3.01059882 8.24038313,3.02522198 C9.18174573,3.92361924 9.26838157,5.42383144 8.43691815,6.43015171 L5.5610895,9.96627791 L5.53461744,9.99634806 C5.38079871,10.1792405 5.20090901,10.3370058 5.00076417,10.4640831 C4.04676718,11.0718709 2.80719278,10.901748 2.04211006,10.0579301 C1.59709864,9.56877523 0.850065046,9.54303024 0.374169553,10.0002613 C-0.100522665,10.4562566 -0.127195273,11.2205739 0.315008503,11.7099348 C1.3991598,12.9045024 2.99670869,13.4575049 4.56377459,13.1800768 C4.80503134,13.1364133 5.04287882,13.0742134 5.27470991,12.9934771 C6.09434113,12.7094584 6.82152068,12.1980598 7.37542854,11.5155086 L10.2440375,7.98947441 C11.0680808,6.96832503 11.4617524,5.65182909 11.3372134,4.33183184 C11.2235039,3.05137889 10.6100339,1.87267016 9.6365839,1.06427739\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><path transform=\"translate(0, 5.762765)\" d=\"M7.78481199,8.39527139 L6.54864687,9.91484383 C5.73222439,10.9339336 4.27946967,11.1129128 3.25127068,10.3214088 C2.2300908,9.49612727 2.05361038,7.97696676 2.85719793,6.92821874 C2.87083505,6.91050619 2.88447217,6.89299959 2.89851039,6.87569896 L5.82387388,3.27984437 L5.84553284,3.25492322 C5.99915102,3.07203079 6.17924127,2.91447144 6.37938611,2.78739415 C7.23972815,2.23645131 8.34754387,2.31595185 9.12506044,2.98449782 C9.2157072,3.06235067 9.30073868,3.14700021 9.37915214,3.23782854 C9.60657122,3.50207514 9.93486491,3.6513961 10.2784001,3.64665902 C10.6175233,3.64171598 10.9377951,3.48498047 11.155588,3.21764447 L11.1696262,3.20034383 C11.5426416,2.74620216 11.5342187,2.07930388 11.1497722,1.63546021 C9.42768425,-0.367088286 6.45118155,-0.55698335 4.50107292,1.21159465 C4.32298813,1.37306725 4.15713665,1.54813319 4.00472174,1.73555674 L1.08738009,5.32173121 C-0.548874157,7.35084854 -0.312430505,10.3492133 1.62043117,12.0813364 C2.56821124,12.921447 3.80678291,13.3317192 5.05377751,13.2188532 C5.20097822,13.2064956 5.34697566,13.1875473 5.49176982,13.1613904 C6.61362375,12.9593437 7.63039162,12.3585585 8.36398864,11.4636626 L9.59594229,9.94923914 C10.0136795,9.43578101 9.94709821,8.67146367 9.44693666,8.24224316 C8.94677511,7.81302264 8.20254916,7.8816073 7.78481199,8.39527139\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/svg> \n    <\/span>\n            <span class=\"eh-social-sharing-button__copied_text\">\n            URL copied for sharing!        <\/span>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull eh-single-resource-whitepapers-layout has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-light-violet-50-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div id=\"stop-el\" class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-15 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-link-arrow is-style-link-arrow--4\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-btn-brand-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"\/resources\/?topic%5B0%5D%5B0%5D=Product\">View all<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query blog-3-col-query-loop is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"columns-3 alignfull wp-block-post-template is-layout-grid wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-1 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-59127 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry resource-type-webinar search-tags-global-employment search-tags-hr-strategy search-tags-ondemand-webinar search-tags-recruitment search-tags-workplace-compliance\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color has-neutral-100-border-color has-white-background-color has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-18 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-width:1px;min-height:100%\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;width:100%;height:100%; padding-bottom:0;padding-top:0;margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/global-hr-recruiting-compliance-webinar\/\" target=\"_self\"  style=\"height:100%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/2608_webinar_Navigating-Global-HR-Recruiting-Compliance-and-Culture-1.webp\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Navigating Global HR: Recruiting, Compliance, and Culture\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/2608_webinar_Navigating-Global-HR-Recruiting-Compliance-and-Culture-1.webp 1920w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/2608_webinar_Navigating-Global-HR-Recruiting-Compliance-and-Culture-1-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/2608_webinar_Navigating-Global-HR-Recruiting-Compliance-and-Culture-1-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/2608_webinar_Navigating-Global-HR-Recruiting-Compliance-and-Culture-1-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/2608_webinar_Navigating-Global-HR-Recruiting-Compliance-and-Culture-1-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/2608_webinar_Navigating-Global-HR-Recruiting-Compliance-and-Culture-1-440x248.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-3-col-details wp-container-content-3 is-vertical is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-17 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-16 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" class=\"taxonomy-resource-type eh-resource-type wp-block-post-terms\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-post-terms-icon\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"icon-blog\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Webinar.png\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/webinar\/\" rel=\"tag\">Webinars<\/a><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/global-hr-recruiting-compliance-webinar\/\" target=\"_self\" >Navigating Global HR: Recruiting, Compliance, and Culture<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-contrast-2-color has-small-font-size wp-container-content-2\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Cross-border HR shouldn&#8217;t mean cross-border confusion. Get practical tips on global recruiting, compliance and culture. Watch the free webinar now. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<a style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-elements-9dfcbcb7662772ecb2d671e8976a6c51 wp-block-read-more has-text-color has-violet-500-color\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/global-hr-recruiting-compliance-webinar\/\" target=\"_self\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">: Navigating Global HR: Recruiting, Compliance, and Culture<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/global-hr-recruiting-compliance-webinar\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"group-block-link\"><\/a>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-59029 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry resource-type-guides-and-playbooks\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color has-neutral-100-border-color has-white-background-color has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-21 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-width:1px;min-height:100%\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;width:100%;height:100%; padding-bottom:0;padding-top:0;margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/onboarding\/\" target=\"_self\"  style=\"height:100%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1728\" height=\"1014\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/Onboarding_Thumbnail.webp\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Employer Playbook: What is onboarding?\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/Onboarding_Thumbnail.webp 1728w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/Onboarding_Thumbnail-300x176.webp 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/Onboarding_Thumbnail-1024x601.webp 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/Onboarding_Thumbnail-768x451.webp 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/Onboarding_Thumbnail-1536x901.webp 1536w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/Onboarding_Thumbnail-864x508.webp 864w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/Onboarding_Thumbnail-440x258.webp 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1728px) 100vw, 1728px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-3-col-details wp-container-content-6 is-vertical is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-20 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-19 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" class=\"taxonomy-resource-type eh-resource-type wp-block-post-terms\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-post-terms-icon\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"icon-blog\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Blog.png\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/guides-and-playbooks\/\" rel=\"tag\">Guides and Playbooks<\/a><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/onboarding\/\" target=\"_self\" >Employer Playbook: What is onboarding?<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-contrast-2-color has-small-font-size wp-container-content-5\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Real onboarding starts at offer acceptance, spans 90 days and is the #1 source of HR errors. Here&#8217;s how to&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<a style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-elements-9dfcbcb7662772ecb2d671e8976a6c51 wp-block-read-more has-text-color has-violet-500-color\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/onboarding\/\" target=\"_self\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">: Employer Playbook: What is onboarding?<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/onboarding\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"group-block-link\"><\/a>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-59043 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry resource-type-webinar topic-employment-law industry-agriculture industry-automative industry-automotive industry-business-consulting industry-childcare industry-childcare-early-education industry-colleges-and-sporting-clubs industry-construction industry-consumer-services industry-customer-service industry-early-education industry-ecommerce industry-education industry-entertainment industry-field-marketing industry-finance industry-financial-services industry-franchises industry-health-and-fitness industry-health-services industry-healthcare industry-healthcare-health-services industry-hospitality industry-it-and-technology industry-legal industry-logistics-manufacturing industry-logistics-and-manufacturing industry-media-communications industry-media-and-communications industry-merchandising industry-not-for-profit industry-professional-services industry-public-relations industry-real-estate industry-real-estate-and-strata-management industry-recruitment industry-retail industry-stem industry-technology industry-utilities-public-services industry-utilities-and-public-services industry-veterinary-services industry-youth-services search-tags-upcoming-webinar\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-border-color has-neutral-100-border-color has-white-background-color has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-24 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-width:1px;min-height:100%\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;width:100%;height:100%; padding-bottom:0;padding-top:0;margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/employment-leave-bill-webinar\/\" target=\"_self\"  style=\"height:100%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1728\" height=\"1016\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/EH_AdvancedlightingSolutions_2884_scaled.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"The End of the Holidays Act? Employment Leave Bill Explained\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/EH_AdvancedlightingSolutions_2884_scaled.jpeg 1728w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/EH_AdvancedlightingSolutions_2884_scaled-300x176.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/EH_AdvancedlightingSolutions_2884_scaled-1024x602.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/EH_AdvancedlightingSolutions_2884_scaled-768x452.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/EH_AdvancedlightingSolutions_2884_scaled-1536x903.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/EH_AdvancedlightingSolutions_2884_scaled-864x508.jpeg 864w, https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/08\/EH_AdvancedlightingSolutions_2884_scaled-440x259.jpeg 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1728px) 100vw, 1728px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group blog-3-col-details wp-container-content-9 is-vertical is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-23 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-22 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" class=\"taxonomy-resource-type eh-resource-type wp-block-post-terms\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-post-terms-icon\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"icon-blog\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Webinar.png\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/webinar\/\" rel=\"tag\">Webinars<\/a><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/employment-leave-bill-webinar\/\" target=\"_self\" >The End of the Holidays Act? Employment Leave Bill Explained<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-contrast-2-color has-small-font-size wp-container-content-8\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Learn how New Zealand&#8217;s proposed Employment Leave Bill could change leave entitlements, payroll and compliance. Join our expert webinar to&hellip; <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<a style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-elements-9dfcbcb7662772ecb2d671e8976a6c51 wp-block-read-more has-text-color has-violet-500-color\" href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/employment-leave-bill-webinar\/\" target=\"_self\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">: The End of the Holidays Act? Employment Leave Bill Explained<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/resources\/employment-leave-bill-webinar\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"group-block-link\"><\/a>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn effective conflict resolution strategies for workplaces. Discover practical steps, mediation processes, and prevention tips to handle conflicts confidently.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":56050,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_visual_mode":"business","_lite_auth_enabled":false,"_lite_auth_trigger_method":"scroll","_lite_auth_scroll_percent":25,"_lite_auth_click_element_query":"","exclude_from_algolia":false,"reading_time":"11 min read","display_reading_time":false,"registration_open_datetime":"","registration_close_datetime":"","event_start_datetime":"","event_end_datetime":"","time_zone":"","location":"","link_video":"","wistia_video_id":"","video_type":"","file_video":"","download_content_type":"file","download_file":"56051","download_url":"","download_cta_label":"","homepage_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"resource-type":[161],"topic":[290],"learn_topic":[],"industry":[61,38,54,57,53,28,50,39,66,40,41,62,44,43,42,64,56,45,46,51,63,47,48,52,49,70,73,58,65,69,68,75,67,74,55],"search-tags":[],"audience":[],"business-size":[],"product-tag":[],"funnel-stage":[],"region":[],"pain-point":[],"persona":[],"post_features":[],"class_list":["post-35449","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","resource-type-guides-and-playbooks","topic-compliance-legal","industry-agriculture","industry-automotive","industry-business-consulting","industry-childcare","industry-colleges-and-sporting-clubs","industry-construction","industry-consumer-services","industry-customer-service","industry-early-education","industry-ecommerce","industry-education","industry-entertainment","industry-finance","industry-financial-services","industry-franchises","industry-health-and-fitness","industry-health-services","industry-healthcare","industry-hospitality","industry-it-and-technology","industry-legal","industry-logistics-manufacturing","industry-media-communications","industry-not-for-profit","industry-professional-services","industry-public-relations","industry-real-estate","industry-real-estate-and-strata-management","industry-recruitment","industry-retail","industry-stem","industry-technology","industry-utilities-public-services","industry-veterinary-services","industry-youth-services"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/35449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resources"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/35449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56055,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/35449\/revisions\/56055"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"resource-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-type?post=35449"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=35449"},{"taxonomy":"learn_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/learn_topic?post=35449"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=35449"},{"taxonomy":"search-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/search-tags?post=35449"},{"taxonomy":"audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/audience?post=35449"},{"taxonomy":"business-size","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/business-size?post=35449"},{"taxonomy":"product-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product-tag?post=35449"},{"taxonomy":"funnel-stage","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/funnel-stage?post=35449"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=35449"},{"taxonomy":"pain-point","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pain-point?post=35449"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=35449"},{"taxonomy":"post_features","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/employmenthero.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_features?post=35449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}