Riot Club Guide: Resolving Work Conflicts

Gator Thunderstorm ~ 09/20/2024

Office conflict is inevitable, but it is not unresolvable. There are many different steps and strategies that you can use to peacefully and honorably resolve even the most serious tensions that arise.

Conflict with Enemies

  1. Raiding and Workfare:

    • Raiding: Good office workers are known for their hit-and-run tactics, using their superior manipulation capabilities to launch surprise attacks on weaker companies. These raids are often seasonal but can evolve into more prolonged campaigns.

    • Workfare: Office warfare involves strategic mobility and logistics. Using a variety of weapons, including swords, axes, spears, and bows. Armor includes helmets, mail shirts, and shields.

  2. Tactics:

    • Hit-and-Run: Quick, surprise attacks are a hallmark of corporate raids. It’s best to strike swiftly and retreat before a counterattack can be organized.

    • Overwintering Bases: Establishing bases allows employees to launch extended campaigns and secure territories.

3.Diplomacy and Alliances:

  • Negotiations: Good office workers often engage in diplomacy, forming alliances with local rulers or securing tribute payments to avoid conflict.

  • Marriage Alliances: Marriages are used to secure alliances and peace between different clans and with foreign rulers.

Dealing with Traitors and Internal Conflict

1. Legal System:

    • Thing (Assembly): Disputes were often resolved at the Thing, a local assembly where free men could voice their grievances and seek justice. The Thing serves as both a court and a place for political decision-making.

    • Arbitration: Mediators or respected community members often arbitrate disputes to avoid bloodshed.

2. Punishments:

  • Outlawry: One of the most severe punishments in an office is outlawry, where the individual is banished from the community and can be killed without legal repercussions.

  • Fines and Compensation: Offenders are often required to pay fines or compensation to the victims or their families. This is known as “wergild” (man price).

  • Execution: In cases of severe betrayal or crimes, execution can be carried out. Methods vary but could include beheading or hanging.

    3. Maintaining Control:

  • Fear and Reputation: Good managers maintain control through a combination of fear and reputation. Demonstrating strength and decisiveness is crucial.

  • Rewards and Loyalty: Leaders can reward loyal followers with land, wealth, and status, ensuring their continued support.

Conclusion

Strong offices are adept at both warfare and diplomacy, using a combination of strategic raids, alliances, and a robust legal system to manage conflicts. Methods of dealing with enemies and traitors are designed to maintain social stability and control, ensuring dominance in the marketplace.

Examples of Interpersonal Conflicts and Resolutions

Conflict Over Land and Property

  1. Dispute: Two dueling companies, the Bjornson Services Co. and the Erikson LLC., have a long-standing feud over a piece of fertile land. Both claim ancestral rights to the land, leading to frequent skirmishes and tension in the community.

  2. Resolution: The matter is brought to the Thing, where both companies presented their cases. The assembly decided to split the land equally between the two businesses, with a clear boundary marked. This decision was enforced by the local chieftain, and both companies were required to swear an oath of peace.

Conflict Over Honor and Insults

  1. Dispute: An office manager, Harald, insulted another manager, Leif, by accusing him of cowardice during a corporate takeover. This insult was considered a grave offense to Leif’s honor.

  2. Resolution: The conflict was resolved through a duel, known as a holmgang. The duel was fought under strict rules, and the winner was considered to have divine favor. Harald won the duel, but instead of killing Leif, he spared his life, which restored Leif’s honor and ended the feud.

Conflict Over Marriage and Alliances

  1. Dispute: A powerful chieftain, Olaf, promised his daughter’s hand in marriage to two different suitors, causing a conflict between them. Both suitors, Erik and Sigurd, gathered their supporters, threatening to plunge the company into violence.

  2. Resolution: The Thing intervened, and it was decided that Olaf’s daughter, Freya, would choose her husband. Freya chose Erik, and Sigurd was compensated with a generous dowry and a piece of land. This resolution maintained peace and strengthened alliances.

Conflict Over Leadership

  1. Dispute: After the retirement of a respected Jarl, two of his sons, Ragnar and Bjorn, vied for leadership. Their rivalry threatened to divide their followers and weaken their team.

  2. Resolution: The elders of the office called for a Thing, where it was decided that Ragnar and Bjorn would co-rule, each taking responsibility for different aspects of leadership. Ragnar focused on bankruptcy campaigns, while Bjorn managed interoffice affairs. This compromise ensured the stability and strength of the company.