Daytime soap operas may be a vanishing species, but some days there seems to be enough drama in the workplace to make up for lost air time, with plenty of extra plot lines. I'm not talking about romance and intrigue. This story line turns around "he said, she said" and, "who does he think he is?"

I received an email message with a description of one typical interaction. The closing line was,"I won't be disrespected like this at work." Did you hear the big sigh? Did someone really ruin another employee's entire day by interrupting a conversation? We're not talking innuendo or references that can be described as harassment.

This type of slight can't be ignored; that's a recipe to set the flood of emotion on overflow. Never say to someone, "I think you're being a bit too sensitive" even when that's just how you think. And I hope,"calm down" is nowhere to be found in your workplace vocabulary.

Take a deep breadth, and maybe a sigh, and listen to the complaint to try to identify the root of the negativity. There could have been a basic miscommunication. Maybe the interloper didn't realize a conversation was taking place. Sometimes the very act of listening well diffuses the situation. Try a reflective statement like, "I see that Fran's behavior really upset you."

I have rarely had an employee tell me, "Oh yes, I was trying to upset him by raising my voice!" It is more likely that the individual in question had no idea that their words or tone of voice offended anyone. When trying to explain how language can have an unintended effect I ask employees to think about a time over their career that they felt uncomfortable at work. Maybe it was when they were the newest, youngest, oldest, slowest, or fastest. In subtle, or not so subtle ways, some conversation made them feel singled out. I have not met an employee who has always been king of the hill and cannot relate a time when they tried only to keep a low profile in the workplace.

If the conversations or an investigation turn up signs of harassment or discrimination respond with appropriate action, which may include discipline and stiff warnings. When the summary is that employees are feeling disrespected try to set the record straight and encourage employees to return to work with the right frame of mind. We all know employees who walk around with what seems like a permanent cloud around them while others approach a day with good cheer even when they face a mounting list of personal challenges.

Respond promptly and take complaints seriously and you just might keep the plague of disrespect from spreading through your staff.

From The HR Answer Blog on AllBusiness.com