A group of seven people had established and run a bakery for two years when a severe conflict emerged and threatened the store's existence. Two workers, Joe and Juanita, had been in a committed intimate relationship for several years but were now going through a difficult breakup. Neither Joe nor Juanita could stand being around one another, but neither could afford to quit his or her job. The bakery needed both members' skills and experience to survive financially.

Over three months the climate in the workplace grew more and more unbearable. Workers had to deal with the tension between the couple while working under daily time pressures and the constraints of having a minimal staff. Many believed that they could not work effectively if the situation got much worse. Important information about bakery orders and deliveries was not being exchanged as workers talked less and less to each other.

The group decided to call in a third party to help improve the situation. In discussing the problem with individual staff members, the third party realized that the workers strongly resented having to deal with the "relationship problem" at the bakery. They felt they were being forced to choose sides in the conflict or risk losing the friendship of both. At the same time, it was painful to see two friends endure a difficult emotional trauma.

Although the staff members were eager to share these feelings with the third party, almost nothing had been said to Joe or Juanita about their conflict. The staff was not willing to discuss the emotional issues 7.1 Climate and Conflict 1219 because they seemed highly volatile and might lead to the breakdown of the work group. The climate had prevented them from expressing emotional reactions, which might have helped the couple understand how their breakup was affecting everyone. As a result, tension heightened and the bakery was about to go under. The third party was able to increase members' feelings of safety, and eventually all were able to talk about the problems.

Finally, at one tension-filled meeting, another member, Karen, openly stated that she felt uncomfortable and that she wanted to talk about Joe and Juanita's problems and their effect on the group. In the ensuing discussion, many issues and feelings emerged. Members were relieved to talk openly, and both Joe and Juanita were able to unburden themselves and get support from the group. The tension between Joe and Juanita did not subside as a result of Karen's intervention (in fact, it continued until Joe left the bakery), but the group's climate improved markedly and members were better able to cope with their co-workers' relationship problems.

Next, answer the following:

• Question 1: Characterize the climate at the bakery. Provide examples from the case study to support your assessment. (Climate is the relatively enduring quality of a social unit that 1) is experienced in common by members, and 2) arises from and influences their interaction and behavior)
• Question 2: Write some example dialogue of how one person in the scenario might have increased the supportive communication.
• Questions 3: How do you think the climate was impacting the workers at the bakery?