Labor Relations Conflict in the Workplace: Scale Development, Consequences and Solutions

Zhou, Lulu; Xi, Meng; Zhang, Xufan; Zhao, Shuming

Labor Relations Conflict in the Workplace: Scale Development, Consequences and Solutions

Abstract

Because the goals of employers and employees are often incompatible, conflicts are inevitable and an essential part of organizational life. The three studies reported in this paper addressed the issues of identifying the dimensions of workplace conflicts within organizations, exploring the consequences of conflicts, and finding appropriate methods of conflict resolution. The first study identified and developed three dimensions of labor relations conflict, including interest-based, rights-based, and emotion-based conflicts. The second study explored two sets of individual outcomes of labor relations conflicts and found labor relations conflicts had a negative effect on employee job satisfaction and affective commitment and positive effects on employee turnover intention and counterproductive work behavior. The third study tested the effectiveness of partnership practices as an alternative method of resolving labor relations conflicts. Suggestions are offered for future research on the labor relations conflict dimensions as well as its outcomes and solutions introduced in these studies.

Date Issued

2017-11-01

Keywords

labor relations conflicts; emotions-based conflict; partnership practices; conflict resolution; China context

Rights

Required Publisher Statement: Copyright held by the authors.

Types

conference papers and proceedings