I've called the management team together to discuss the current economic climate and the decrease in funding streams. As the executive director, it's my responsibility to inform everyone that our budget will be $250,000 less than what we budgeted for this fiscal year. We, unfortunately, must cut costs. And the most impactful and quickest way to do that is to downsize our staffing. MALE SPEAKER: We feel terrible, but we have to do this to avoid people going out of business first. FEMALE SPEAKER: Yeah. Right. If we don't do it, then we could close our doors and not be able to help this community any longer. And nobody wants that. This community needs our services. And we would instead downsize than close and leave all employees without jobs. MALE SPEAKER: Senior leadership met and considered various avenues other than downsizing. FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, what were these other avenues? FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, things like renegotiating reimbursement contracts with insurance companies, increasing our sliding scale in the clinic, not giving raises this year, cutting salaries for staff, reducing contributions to employees' health benefits, eliminating the intern program due to hidden costs, and not matching 403b any longer. MALE SPEAKER: And we determined that these options alone would either not be enough or wouldn't be how we want to treat our staff. We collectively decided that we would rather have fewer employees, continue to pay a livable wage, and provide good benefits rather than have more employees and mediocre pay and benefits. FEMALE SPEAKER: That said, we now come to you, our excellent managers, to continue the conversation and get your input. FEMALE SPEAKER: Why can't we get rid of the clinic? FEMALE SPEAKER: The medical clinic is desperately needed in this community. Not only that, but it also produces revenues that our budget depends on. FEMALE SPEAKER: I understand what everyone's saying, but I only have one case manager helping me. And without him, this job will be impossible. I vote for Therapy Services or Employment and Life Skills to decrease their staff since they have more than one employee. That seems obvious to me. FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, if there's just one staff in Transitional Housing, do we need a manager to oversee one person? I mean, perhaps both those positions could be re-evaluated. FEMALE SPEAKER: It's not off the table to restructure as we downsize. Some parts can be combined, or job duties can be redistributed amongst various staff. And this is why we're having this brainstorming session. FEMALE SPEAKER: I vote for reducing the social work staff. The therapy services department already has a director and four staff. That's five people. Meanwhile, the rest of us are working extra hard to complete all our tasks. That department is overstaffed, and it's not fair.  

 

Now pretend you are the Director of Clinical Services and 

 

• First, respond in a way that perpetuates "unhealthy conflict, " keeping the discussion unproductive and harmful.
• Then, respond in a way that practices "healthy conflict," in which you de-escalate the situation, which must be a professional response?

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

Response perpetuating unhealthy conflict As the Director of Clinical Services I understand your conc... View the full answer