Mediation

Sometimes, when there’s a problem in the workplace, you can’t simply sit down and talk it out. At those times, you – or others in the organization – may need higher-level skills and understanding in order to bring peace and productivity back to the office. That’s why we offer mediation training.

How do you know when mediation training is needed in your workplace?

• There’s visible conflict between workers.
• There may have been complaints about it.
• Other staff may have been involved.
• Human Resources thinks that the problem may be resolved through behavior modification or system changes.

Basic Mediation

When we are contacted by your Human Resources staff, we work with them to determine whether mediation will be effective. If so, then HR contacts the conflicting parties to explain that a Mediator will be involved. Our procedure is then as follows:

• Intake. The Mediator gathers information directly from the conflicting parties.
• Initial Assessment. The Mediator offers, through meetings with the conflicting parties, a mediation style and support materials.
• Initial Agreement: The conflicting parties sign a contract indicating that they are prepared to negotiate in good faith and will work to resolve the issues.
• Meetings: Meetings with the Mediator will be attended by all parties as necessary; managers or HR staff may be involved if necessary and by agreement of all parties.
• Reports: The Mediator’s report is made available to the conflicting parties, their managers, and HR staff.
• Final Agreements: The Mediator prepares a Final Agreement, and a final meeting takes place, where everyone involved reviews any corrective actions necessary and signs off.

Advanced Mediation

Sometimes Basic Mediation isn’t enough. How would you know? Here are several possible clues:

• The conflicting parties don’t follow through after Basic Mediation.
• There is a need for more study material than is provided with Basic Mediation.
• There are more than two conflicting parties, e.g. several people involved.
• There is a need for in-house conflict management training to head off future problems.

Our procedure doesn’t change much between Basic and Advanced, though more contact time is necessary with Advanced Mediation. We also provide supplemental material that can include conflict management training, Myers-Briggs Type-Indicator testing, review and training, and other resources as needed.