A new survey from Accountemps found that CFOs, on average, spent 15% of their work week, or six hours, trying to quell staff fights. That is almost one whole work day.
Similar surveys show that managers were spending just as much time, dating back to 1991. The survey polled more than 2,200 CFOs in more than 20 of the biggest metropolitan areas in the U.S.
"The more time managers spend reducing friction between coworkers, the less time they have for tackling business priorities," say Mike Steinitz, executive director of Accountemps. "Company leaders should proactively look for ways to build rapport among colleagues to help curb issues before they arise."
Accountemps’ tips for quashing conflicts include showing empathy for all sides, acting fact to nip problems, bringing in a third party to mediate and refusing to hold grudges.