What is Mediation?
Mediation is a process that helps people who are struggling to make important and necessary decisions. If the process is stuck, or having the conversations is too difficult, a mediator can help unstick those decisions and make it easier to move the decision along.
What is Workplace Mediation?
Workplace Mediation is a voluntary process led by an impartial third party (the mediator) that organisations can use to resolve conflict. Mediation, a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), avoids stress and the cost of tribunals by guiding participants to mutually acceptable solutions.
In most cases, mediation lasts for one full day. Entrenched positions can be adopted when problems are overlooked or inflamed. Even complex issues such as grievances, complaints, allegations of bullying and harassment can be resolved. A skilled mediator can help colleagues in conflict move towards a constructive and satisfactory resolution. They do this by identifying and addressing their underlying needs and interests; by encouraging dialogue; and by carefully managing the parties through a powerful structured process.
The results speak for themselves - the vast majority of disputes taken to professional mediators are resolved:
- far sooner
- at a significantly lower cost
- with less stress and time for the HR team, the parties and the parties' teams
- less bad PR, both internally for the team or division, and externally for the company
