Cross-cultural conflict can arise at any time in the workplace and sometimes we are not aware it has even developed until it has become a major issue with another worker or client. Sometimes issues can be resolved simply by talking to each other but at other times mediation needs to be used to come to a reasonable truce and understanding. Even if we speak the same language and follow the same religion there can be conflict because we are all individuals with different thoughts and ideas.
There are many issues that may contribute to cross-cultural conflict. When a work place has cross-cultural conflict such as different language spoken by a worker is causing the breakdown of communication and conflict, it is a hard to solve immediately unless an interpreter is used, long term the learning of different languages would be most beneficial. Difference of opinion when it comes to someone’s idealisms or cultural norms is best resolved by talking through the differences so as to get a better understanding of expectations as a culture and of workers thoughts and ideas. A workers role or status in the workplace may be of cultural conflict to other workers and a lower level role of a worker may be looked down on (Open Colleges, 2013, p. 47-49). A different religion can cause cross-cultural conflict in many ways and it can lead to other areas of conflict in the workplace such as personal space being invaded for example a worker of Egyptian heritage is used to closer distance when conversing with another person but Australians tend to like more distance or space between each other when talking and this can make either the Australian uncomfortable or offended the Egyptian if they do not understand each other’s cultural norms (Geldard & Geld...
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...agues in the end. Having different cultures in the workplace is rewarding, enriching and can be very beneficial to everyone.
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