Training

Conflict with Colleagues – Avoiding Workplace Warfare

Date from
17/11/2026

Start time
7:45am

Date to
17/11/2026

End time
9:30am

Location
1857 Bar & Restaurant

Cost
FREE

Tutor

Richard Davies

Richard is a highly experienced employment relations and conflict resolution specialist with nearly 30 years of workplace expertise, complemented by a background in leadership within the emergency services and experience in the specialist security industry. A former Senior Advisor and Deputy Area Director at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), Richard has supported organisations across the public, private and third sectors to build fair, effective and legally compliant workplaces.

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The world can feel like an increasingly angry place. From global tensions and political divisions to the pressures of everyday life, conflict seems to be everywhere. But conflict is nothing new. Throughout history, disagreements over power, resources, beliefs and identity have shaped societies, relationships and the course of human events. What has changed is how quickly tensions can escalate, how widely they can spread, and how difficult it can be to find common ground in an increasingly polarised world.

So, what does this mean for us at work?

Workplaces are microcosms of society, bringing together people with different personalities, experiences, values, expectations and ways of communicating. Add organisational pressures, competing priorities, change and stress, and it is hardly surprising that misunderstandings, friction and disagreements arise. In today’s workplace, conflict can manifest as strained relationships, communication breakdowns, disengagement, absenteeism, formal grievances and, ultimately, the loss of valuable people. Yet conflict itself is not necessarily the problem. Left unmanaged, it can become costly, damaging both individuals and organisations. Employment disputes can bring increased legal exposure, potentially significant settlement costs, lengthy investigations and lasting harm to morale and trust. But approached constructively, conflict can also be an opportunity for understanding, growth and positive change.

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking talk exploring the history of conflict, the challenges we face in today’s increasingly tense world, and how these wider patterns of behaviour show up in our working lives. We will consider why workplace disagreements escalate, the human impact of unresolved conflict, and how we can move away from blame and confrontation towards meaningful conversations and lasting solutions.

The talk will also introduce the value of workplace mediation: a practical, impartial and structured approach that gives people the opportunity to be heard, rebuild trust and find mutually acceptable ways forward. We will explore how mediation can help organisations reduce formal complaints, ease workplace stress, protect staff retention and foster cultures built on fairness, dignity and psychological safety. Discover how mediation training equips leaders, managers and HR professionals with practical skills to address conflict early, before it develops into a formal grievance or legal dispute.

Come and discover how, even in an angry world, we can turn conflict into connection, disagreement into dialogue, and workplace tension into an opportunity for lasting, positive change.

It’s 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 to attend, further information and tickets are available below:

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When you register for this training course, Focus HR will collect your personal data (your first and last name, contact email addresses, contact phone numbers and other similar contact data) for the purposes of administering the course.

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A copy of each of the Focus HR’s Privacy policy can be found here –  https://www.focushrs.com/privacy-policy which provide full details of the collection and use of all personal data collected by us.

Testimonials

The training was excellent and very enjoyable The trainer made it interesting and engaging and I now feel that I have the materials required to undertake an investigation if I need to.

Lauren, HR Officer Training

I thoroughly enjoyed the recent training which covered the complexity of disciplinary investigations. I found the session to be well planned and developed in a manner to ensure all participants remained fully engaged throughout the day and the delivery of this training by Phil Osborne has to be commended. It was great to work with the Focus HR staff during the practical elements of the session whilst also gaining some valuable insight into how others approach these sensitive and challenging matters. Thank you Focus HR, I very much look forward to the next session in July.

Becky, HR Manager Training
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