Combating conflict in the workplace: The content and effect of a conflict management and assertiveness training programme

Abstract

The high incidence rates of interpersonal conflict, bullying, gender and race based harassment and verbal abuse in the South African workplace requires a social work response. This article looks at how one employer, the South African Police Service, addressed this issue through the development and successful presentation of a conflict management and assertiveness training programme to its employees. The lessons they learned could be used by social workers in other occupational settings and generic practice to develop equally effective interventions.