The finding comes from a survey of 1,000 employees from the
South West, carried out for the DTI by the British Marketing
Research Bureau.
Men came out of the survey less favourably than women, with
almost one in three (28%) finding that their jokes have back-fired,
compared to 19% of women, and over a quarter (26%) misjudging their
timing, compared to just 13% of their female counterparts.
One in 10 workers has been in trouble with a colleague or client
because they sent an e-mail to the wrong person, while 14% of
respondents found themselves in difficulties because they handled a
sensitive issue in the wrong way.
The survey results come ahead of the introduction of new
Regulations that promote good and effective communication in the
workplace, as a means of resolving disputes that can otherwise lead
to an employment tribunal.
Last year, according to the DTI, Employment Tribunals dealt with
115,000 claims based on work disputes, from problems over pay and
conditions, to racial and sexual harassment. Yet research shows
that in over a third of cases, the individual and the manager
hadn't discussed the problem at all.
The Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations come
into force on 1st October, and from this date all businesses will
need to have in place statutory minimum dismissal and disciplinary
procedures, requiring employers and employees to follow a simple
three-stage process, in order to ensure that disputes are discussed
within the workplace before any further action is taken.
According to Employment Relations Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, "A
more relaxed work culture and a rise in the use of modern
technology such as e-mail have resulted in great benefits for
business. But get the tone or timing wrong and there could be
tensions and a breakdown of communication at an individual
level."
"The key to any problem is to try to nip it in the bud by
dealing with it when it arises and stop things escalating - that's
why it is vital to have sound procedures in place to deal with
disputes in the workplace," he added.
