Finding and keeping good employees remains a priority for businesses across northwest Kansas. With Ellis County's unemployment rate at just 3.6% in August 2026, local employers face a relatively limited pool of available workers, making employee retention more important than ever.
Fort Hays State University's Professional & Continuing Education (PCE) is helping employers address one important factor in employee satisfaction and retention: how workplace conflict is managed.
PCE will offer Conflict Management in the Workplace, a two-part interactive professional development workshop designed to help employees, supervisors, and organizational leaders navigate disagreements, communicate more effectively, and build stronger workplace relationships.
For employers, investing in a positive workplace environment is not just about employee satisfaction. It also makes good financial sense.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management's 2025 benchmarking report, the average cost of hiring a nonexecutive employee is $5,475. When organizations lose experienced employees, they also face additional challenges, including lost productivity, disruptions to operations, and the time required to train replacements.
In a community where unemployment remains low, replacing employees can be especially challenging.
While conflict is a natural part of any workplace, how organizations respond to disagreements can make a significant difference in employee morale, collaboration, and the overall work environment. When conflict is ignored or poorly managed, it can damage relationships and contribute to employee dissatisfaction. When addressed constructively, however, disagreements can become opportunities to improve communication, build trust, and strengthen teams.
FHSU's Conflict Management in the Workplace workshop provides participants with practical tools to recognize, understand, and manage conflict before it escalates. Through self-assessments, real-world scenarios, group discussions, and reflection activities, participants will explore common sources of workplace conflict, identify their personal approaches to conflict, and practice strategies for handling difficult conversations.
The workshop draws on the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model and principles from Crucial Conversations, providing participants with practical strategies they can immediately apply in their workplaces.
The training is relevant for supervisors, managers, team leaders, human resources professionals, and employees at all levels who want to strengthen communication and contribute to a more positive, productive work environment.
For area employers, the workshop offers an opportunity to invest in their existing workforce rather than focusing solely on recruiting new employees. By developing the skills needed to manage disagreements constructively, organizations can take meaningful steps toward building workplaces where employees feel respected, supported, and motivated to stay.
Conflict Management in the Workplace is being delivered via Zoom and can be accessed anywhere; it is scheduled for November 10 and 17, from 10 a.m. to noon.
FHSU Alumni and Hays Chamber Members are eligible for a 15% discount.
For more information or to register, visit FHSU Professional & Continuing Education.
About FHSU Professional & Continuing Education