Conflict unfortunately is all around us. In wars and in growing tensions between nations. Within nations and across society, where there appears to be growing intolerance and polarization.

This impacts the world of work, and in organizations of all kinds, conflict, bullying and harassment are too prevalent and are detrimental to individuals as well as to organizational outcomes. Conflict is a drag on productivity. Every hour spent in conflict is an hour not spent on getting the job done. Conflict at work is aligned to higher rates of sickness and to a management and business leadership distracted from their core goals.

Organizations have a responsibility to understand and resolve conflicts, and to create supportive and inclusive cultures which are good for their people and which drive positive business outcomes. But equally, individuals have their role to play in collaborating, sharing and engaging with colleagues for the shared purpose.

Human resources (HR) as a profession has a crucial role to play in making all this happen. In a fast- changing and challenging world, and in complex work spaces, we help define, understand and express organizational culture. We help establish clear policies of what is expected, ensure that all the people recruitment, development and management practices are fair and open, and support mental as well as physical wellbeing. Together, these are all vital elements in enabling positive business outcomes and performance.