It’s All Your Fault: High Conflict People Why Workplace Conflict Is Surging: High Conflict at Work, Part 1 of 4
Jun 11, 2026
Michael Lomax, lawyer and mediator with the High Conflict Institute, brings workplace-focused conflict expertise. He discusses why workplace conflict is surging now. He covers trends like generational shifts, social media polarization, organizational design, boundary violations by high conflict people, and building conflict-ready leaders and systems.
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Conflict Is A Massive Preventable Cost
- Workplace conflict costs US businesses about $359 billion a year and wastes roughly 2.8 hours per employee weekly.
- Joe Sigrilla's article framed the solution as shifting from firefighting to building "fireproof teams" that prevent disputes before they erupt.
Intervene Early And Back Leaders To Act
- Intervene early and confidently: set clear expectations, correct misinformation quickly, and coach employees in conflict skills.
- Michael Lomax recommends organizational support and policies so leaders know "this is what we expect you to do."
Keep Workplace Activities From Becoming Fractures
- "Make work about work" aims to avoid divisive extracurricular groups that fragment teams.
- Megan Hunter gave the example of COVID-era social groups that shifted into political and religious divisions and split teams.
