As an employer, you want all of your employees to get along so you can maintain a friendly and motivational atmosphere. Not everyone will get along, however. It’s inevitable, especially in big businesses, that some personalities will clash. Thankfully, there are measures you can take to avoid fights.

Introduce team building and trust exercises

Team building activities both in and out of the workplace can help foster an environment of support and trust. Employees need to know that they can trust their coworkers in case they’re in a bind.

Keep clashing personalities on shifting schedules to avoid confrontation

In a workplace with a variety of personalities and backgrounds, it is reasonable to assume that not everyone will get along. You may not know who will have issues with each other until they are on a few shifts together, so managers should keep an eye out for clashing personalities. If possible, keep individuals who seem to clash on opposite schedules in order to avoid confrontation.

Train all employees and managers in de-escalation

De-escalation refers to the ability to calm and defuse a situation before it explodes. For example, if an employee notices their coworker is growing frustrated, they should work to calm the employee in a genuine way so as to avoid a possible fight or conflict.

Provide mental health services or counselling

Mental health is just as important as the physical health of your employees. Illnesses such as depression and anxiety are often compounded by stress, which can lead to a fall in productivity and mood in the workplace. Providing employee benefits that include comprehensive health insurance, counselling and other mental health services can help your employees receive the support they need and stop conflicts before they ever arise.

Distance employees from customers they clash with, if possible

Employees will generally be open with their manager if they are having difficulty with a customer. In some cases, it may be best to simply support your employee in the best way you possibly can. In others, it may be better for the employee and the customer to send the customer to another employee for assistance.

Every employee wants to feel safe and heard in their workplace. Be sure to maintain an open atmosphere for concerned employees to voice their opinions so their emotions don’t build up and inevitably boil over. And just in case, make sure your workers compensation insurance has the proper limits and coverage in case a fight breaks out between employees or an employee and a customer.