LINE managers, including those responsible for fleets, are under increasing strain as companies are failing to provide the support and training to deal with at-work grievances.

Employers have been criticised for failing to equip managers with the necessary skills to deal with conflict at work in a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Almost 1,000 organisations were polled and about a third said their managers were good at dealing with complaints while more than half said their managers were average and 16% claimed they were poor.

Ben Willmott, CIPD employee relations adviser, said: ‘Employers must provide the relevant training for line managers and invest in mediation if they are serious about reducing the damage caused by conflict at work.

‘While most organisations train managers to use disciplinary and grievance procedures, too many are failing to recognise the value of mediation and training.’