A team of community services workers is experiencing conflict. There is an Aboriginal worker on the team (Barry), a Muslim worker (Ahmed) and two white Australian workers (Janice and Julia). It started when Ahmed accused Barry of being lazy and rude – ‘He never rushes, even when we are rushed off our feet and he doesn’t even look me in the eye when he talks to me.’
Barry retaliates by accusing Ahmed of taking time off all the time to ‘pray on his stupid prayer mat’.
Janice responds by saying, ‘For God’s sake, why can’t you just be like the rest of us?’
Janice and Julia get caught up in it with, both Ahmed and Barry complaining all the time about each other and trying to get them to take sides.
Their conflict is impacting on their clients and colleagues.
- There are a range of issues that are causing difficulties within this work team. List each one you can identify. For each issue you identify, indicate the cultural differences that are being misunderstood among the team members.
- What could you suggest to help this team resolve their differences in a culturally sensitive manner? List at least one strategy.
- Imagine Barry complains to management about the time Ahmed takes to pray. Ahmed puts forth a suggestion that his prayer time is taken as break times, and he still works a full day – just a longer one than his colleagues. Management refuses the suggestion as if he gets special treatment, everyone will want special treatment.
- What further issue has now occurred in this workplace?
- Now let’s imagine Ahmed’s suggestion is successful. However, Barry continues to complain and encourages others to make fun of Ahmed during his time of prayer. Julia is very uncomfortable about what is happening.
- As an employee, what is Julia’s responsibility in this situation?
- Review the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. What Article/s are being breached in this scenario?