Workplace mediation
Mediation is an informal way of resolving disagreements or disputes in the workplace. It is a confidential and voluntary process that can avoid the need to use more formal or legal procedures. It involves a neutral mediator working with those in dispute to help them reach an agreement.
Mediation can be a better way of dealing with workplace conflict than more formal processes and is a key element in the conflict resolution process for a majority of people.
Most disputes can be mediated if those involved want to find a way forward. Workplace mediation is especially suitable when the aim is to maintain the employment relationship.
You could benefit from mediation if:
- Both parties are willing to have a mediation session
- Both parties will be continuing to work together in some way
- Any other formal or legal or appeal processes are paused or completed
- Mediation is being offered as a first stage informal resolution in such policies as grievance or bullying or harassment, that the parties are willing to resolve their complaint by mediation
What does mediation involve?
Mediation involves firstly talking to those involved separately, to find out about the situation, how they feel about it and the effects it is having on them in their working situation. I will then help them to start thinking about what they want and how things might be improved.
As a workplace mediator I won't take sides or judge who is right or wrong. The aim is to repair working relationships, helping both individuals focus on the future, not the past. Both disputants will be able to talk to me openly because I will not pass on anything that is said without their agreement.
When the time is right I will bring both disputants together. They will have a opportunity to say how they feel uninterrupted and to listen to the other person. I will help them to look at the situation realistically and come up with ways to improve things. Both parties will later receive a written agreement to sign and keep.
How many sessions will I need?
Mediation between two people usually takes just one day. I will meet with you individually in the morning and the mediation session will take place in the afternoon.
I also suggest a follow-up session at a suitable time in the future to discuss progress.
Where will the sessions take place?
Mediation meetings are usually held on your employer's premises. There will need to be at least two private rooms for the mediation - one for each side in the dispute.
What will I get out of mediation?
As a mediator I will guide and support you through a structured process and help you identify the real issues and come up with ideas to improve things.
Common benefits include:
- Reducing anxiety and stress for all concerned
- Reducing or eliminating stress involved in using more formal processes
- Emphasis on the positives
- Focuses on win/win
- Helping people work together again in a respectful way
- Helps people return to work
- It helps improve morale and effective working relations
How much will it cost?
Please contact me for an informal, free chat so that we can discuss your situation and the options open to you.
I can provide independent mediation anywhere in the UK and will be happy to travel to your location.
If you decide to proceed with the mediation process I will send you a mediation pack so that all parties attending the mediation will know exactly what to expect.
Please email me on liz@lizfreemancoaching.co.uk if you would like to request further details.
As an independent workplace mediator I can help you to resolve disputes within your organisation. This works best if I am brought in at an early stage, when conflict has arisen but before relationships have broken down. Experience shows that mediation is particularly useful for conflict or disputes between individual workers or between individuals and their line managers. Where conflict has resulted in an individual's absence from work, mediation can also help them integrate back into the workplace.
Most kinds of dispute can be mediated if those involved want to find a way forward. Workplace mediation is especially suitable when the aim is to maintain the working relationship.
Your employees could benefit from mediation if:
- Both parties are willing to participate in a mediation session
- Both parties will be continuing to work together in some way
- Any other formal or legal or appeal processes are paused or completed
- It is being offered as a first stage of informal resolution
What does mediation involve?
Mediation involves firstly talking to those involved separately, to find out about the situation, how they feel about it and the effects it is having on them in their working situation. I will then help them to start thinking about what they want and how things might be improved.
As a mediator I won't take sides or judge who is right or wrong. The aim is to repair working relationships, helping both individuals focus on the future, not the past. Both disputants will be able to talk to me openly because I will not pass on anything that is said without their agreement.
When the time is right I will bring both disputants together. They will have a opportunity to say how they feel uninterrupted and to listen to the other person. I will help them to look at the situation realistically and come up with ways to improve things. Both parties will later receive a written agreement to sign and keep.
How many sessions do you recommend?
Mediation between two people usually takes one day, with individual meetings taking place in the morning and a joint mediation meeting in the afternoon.
I also recommend a follow-up session at a suitable time in the future to discuss progress.
Where will the sessions take place?
Mediation meetings are usually held on the employer's premises. There will need to be at least two private rooms for the mediation.
What are the benefits of workplace mediation?
Common benefits include:
- Reducing anxiety and stress for all concerned
- Reducing or eliminating stress involved in using more formal processes
- Retaining valuable employees
- Reducing the number of formal grievances raised
- Developing an organisational culture that focuses on managing and developing people
- Avoiding the cost of defending employment tribunal claims
- Reducing absence
- Helping people work together again in a respectful way
- Improve morale and effective working relations
How much will it cost?
Please contact me for an informal, free chat so that we can discuss the situation and the options open to you.
I can provide independent mediation anywhere in the UK and will be happy to travel to your location.
If you decide to proceed with the mediation process I will send you a mediation pack so that all parties attending the mediation will know exactly what to expect.
Please email me on liz@lizfreemancoaching.co.uk if you would like to request further details.