Workplace Mediation

Mediation in the workplace

Workplace mediation has become increasingly well known in recent years in the UK. It is in the interests of employers to try to sort out workplace disputes in an informal way before resorting to an employment tribunal.

Workplace mediation can deal with:

Mediation can handle a whole range of common workplace issues:

Conflicts with managers or colleagues
Disagreements about how work is done
Differences over expectations
The so-called ‘personality clash’ (often, in reality, a ‘behaviour clash’)
Incidents which have given rise to misunderstandings, hurt and offence

If left unresolved, single issues can multiply and lead to serious conflict in the workplace. The stress caused by difficult situations can result in illness, absenteeism or poor work performance. The workplace may become fractured, with opposing 'camps' and a tense atmosphere that everyone is aware of. At its most serious, people can become genuinely and seriously ill, skilled personnel can leave, and the performance of a whole department or organisation can be seriously affected.

Mediation aims for a win-win outcome, which allows for all involved to achieve important goals whilst maintaining effective working relationships. Mediation is based on fairness, equality and respect, and all Resolve mediators are trained to high standards of professionalism that embody impartiality and the maintenance of a productive, future focused and carefully structured process.

Making a referral

If a situation arises within the workplace which you think could be suitable for mediation, contact the Resolve office and we will provide you with some basic information to share with those who might take part.

As long as individuals in your workplace are willing to try mediation and speak on a confidential basis to trained and impartial Resolve mediators, then we would invite you to make a referral.

After initial consultation work by the mediators to establish the issues involved, the mediation itself will take place over one day in a neutral location away from the workplace.

What are the steps in workplace mediation?

Step One: Preparation.

Step Two: Consultation.

Step Three: Consideration.

Step Four: Meeting and Discussion.

Step Five: Implementation and Follow-up.

The benefits of mediation at work

Mediation offers an opportunity to meet people's needs, both psychological and practical. It can help people feel respected and listened to without losing face. Practical, forward- focussed solutions to workplace issues can help restore effective and harmonious working relationships.

Mediation can also enhance the role of the manager and act as an additional supportive resource to achieve a positive outcome. It is about increasing understanding between individuals and achieving better ways of communicating in the future. Mediation focuses on what's wrong and how it can be fixed, in a step-by-step process. It looks to achieve a win-win outcome for all involved.

For the organisation, mediation has been shown to be a cost- effective way to reduce workplace stress, increase productivity and remove the need to go through the formal processes of disciplinary or grievance procedures.