Workplace Mediation

For an introduction to my workplace mediation work, including how the process works and some evidence of its effectiveness from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, please visit my Mediation For Workplaces website at www.mediationforworkplaces.co.uk.

Purposes

• To help two people who have to work together, but are having difficulties with each other, to find a workable resolution. This would ideally be before it becomes a conflict
• To resolve conflicts constructively
• To arrive at a practical agreement for future cooperation
• To avoid losing staff with valuable skills
• To reach people before they feel they have to leave or resort to legal services
• As a consequence to deliver financial savings

Process

• The mediator sees each person separately for about an hour each.
• The mediator then facilitates the two people to describe their experience of the situation, listen to the other and finish with a workable agreement that they have arrived at and which they both sign. This can take a couple of hours.
• The whole process usually takes a working day with a follow-up of half a day a couple of months later
• There is an understanding between all three of confidentiality

The advantage of an external mediator is that s/he has no previous relationship with the people concerned and can be seen to have no vested interest within the organisation.