Managing Conflict, Grievances, and Misconduct at the Workplace (HRM378)

Workplace conflicts, grievances, and employee misconduct are inevitable realities of every workplace and these often fall to HR professionals to be managed and if possible, de-escalated. But in today’s modern workplace, issues relating to these aspects of employee management can arise in several shapes and forms. To build a fairer and more harmonious workplace in Singapore, the Singapore government has passed a Workplace Fairness Bill on 8 January 2025. The bill requires employers to establish a formal grievance handling process so that employees and employers can help to resolve grievances and disputes amicably. How then can HR professionals competently and professionally manage incidents and complaints which result in employee friction? What considerations should HR professionals take into account, to what extent should HR professionals intervene in a conflict or grievance and what methods of conflict resolution, grievance management and investigations be adopted? These are some key questions which this course aims to answer – consequently, this course aims to equip students with the relevant knowledge, skills and practical abilities to aid them in performing this critical role should the need arise in their professional lives. HRM378 Managing Conflict, Grievances, and Misconduct at the Workplace will cover topics ranging from introductions to how organisations can define grievances and misconduct with the attendant spectrum of consequences, how these contentious situations can be handled sensitively and sensibly, and what are some appropriate conflict resolution methods including mediation. Students can also expect to be equipped with basic legal knowledge in the areas relevant to the course subject matter such as dismissals and fair employment practices. The course aims to be a practical course with each lesson focusing on case study discussions and instructor guided role-play for students to experience the challenges in handling contentious scenarios and to apply the concepts learnt. These will ultimately equip students and HR professionals to be skilful conflict managers and investigators in their companies.

• Workplace conflicts and grievances
• Methods of conflict management and grievance resolution
• Workplace investigations – triggers, processes and outcomes
• Defining types of misconduct and its consequences
• Mediation as a conflict resolution tool
• Preparing the investigation report
• Disciplinary action and employee dismissals
• Developing and drafting internal conflict resolution processes, grievance handling processes, and investigation and disciplinary processes – considerations and best practices
• Workplace Fairness Law
• Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices
• Tripartite Advisory on mental well-being
• Managing post-conflict/grievance/investigation disputes

• Discuss the common types of conflicts, employee grievances, and employee misconduct at the workplace.
• Describe the various methods of conflict resolution management and employee grievance handling.
• Determine the appropriate methods to resolve conflict, employee grievances, and employee misconduct.
• Execute workplace mediation to resolve grievances and disputes amicably between employer and employee.
• Develop policies for conflict resolution and grievance handling, and protocols for investigation and disciplinary actions.
• Formulate appropriate responses in the management of workplace dispute, grievance handling, and allegations of misconduct.