 With the World Cup upon us, disputes over television viewing for those with opposing views of football are likely to be arising in households across the nation, and in extreme cases may require a referee to mediate! So on this theme, this email update takes a look at the commercial and other benefits of mediation in bringing disputes in the workplace to a swift (and satisfactory) conclusion.
So what is workplace mediation? In a nutshell, it is the act of bringing parties together who are in dispute, or otherwise unable to work cohesively, to attempt to reach a set of mutually agreed actions which make the relationship workable. It can only take place if those in the dispute agree to take part (so you know you are making some progress right from the start)! We find that workplace mediation is effective because all involved are in control of the remedies suggested and have a vested interest in making sure that what they agree to actually works!
Before dismissing it as yet another onerous process, consider the possibilities if agreement is reached - after all, if two opposing political parties are able to work together for the interest of the country, surely the most polarised of employees can learn to work together!
Mediation can take place at any stage of an employment dispute – whether to nip a situation in the bud without needing to follow a protracted grievance process, or further down the line, so don’t despair if you are already dealing with a dispute that has escalated.
When you take into account the management time taken up with grievance related investigations and meetings, the cost of recruitment and training to replace disgruntled employees who resign (even after all the effort taken to address the issues) and that’s even before the cost of defending a Tribunal claim and any possible compensation, surely the option of mediation is a no-brainer!
At Jaluch, we can help you facilitate mediation internally, drawing up paperwork and agreements to support you, or we can run mediation sessions for you. If this is of interest, our accredited mediator, Elisabeth Fitch, is only a phone call or email away, so for a completely confidential discussion please talk to us. Also, see our top tips section for ideas about when mediation may (and equally may not!) be appropriate.
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