Mediation

Workplace disputes can be disruptive, stressful, and damaging to both individuals and the wider organisation. When conflicts arise, resolving them swiftly and effectively is crucial for maintaining a positive work environment. Mediation is an effective and confidential process that helps employees address and resolve disputes without escalating matters io formal grievances or legal action.

Resolving Workplace Issues

HR-Onsite provides professional workplace mediation services designed to facilitate open communication, rebuild relationships, and encourage mutual understanding between disputing parties. Our service helps create a constructive dialogue, ensuring that workplace issues do not escalate further and that productivity remains unaffected.

What is Workplace Mediation?

Workplace mediation is a process involving a mediator who helps the parties in dispute to reach agreement to resolve their concerns and enables them to work more harmoniously in future.

It is an alternative to a grievance hearing and a means for all parties to air their complaints in a safe and structured environment, to discuss the issues and find a resolution.

It is not the mediator’s role to suggest or find a solution. They enable the parties to raise their concerns in a controlled manner and without confrontation.

Mediation should be voluntary and will be confidential so you will only be told whether the mediation was successful or not.

Mediation differs from formal HR procedures because it focuses on collaboration rather than confrontation. Unlike a grievance procedure, it encourages employees to find common ground, ensuring a better future working relationship. It does not impose solutions but instead helps parties come to a voluntary agreement on how to move forward amicably.

Why Use Mediation?

Mediation is a powerful tool for resolving workplace disputes and helps employees maintain a positive working relationship. It can help to:

  • Reduce the stress and anxiety on the parties in dispute.
  • Improve the working relationships between the parties.
  • Obtain a better understanding of each party’s perspective of the matter.
  • Increase communication between the parties.
  • Assist individuals to find a resolution to the dispute.
  • Create a better working environment for all staff as well as boosting morale.

Our Role in the Mediation Process

HR-Onsite provides a structured process that enables employees to express their concerns. We hold the session in two parts – with each individua, and then with all the parties for them to raise and discuss the issues in a controlled environment.

We do not take any notes because the mediation is confidential. We don’t share what was said in the session, only whether the meeting was successful or not.

How We Conduct Mediation:

  1. Pre-Meetings – We meet with each participant separately to understand their perspective, explain the process, and establish ground rules for the session.
  2. Facilitated Discussion – Once both parties agree to mediation, we bring them together in a neutral environment to discuss their concerns openly and constructively.
  3. Identifying Issues and Interests – The mediator will help the parties uncover the cause of the conflict, ensuring that all views are heard and understood.
  4. Exploring Solutions – Rather than imposing decisions, employees are encouraged to find their own agreed solution to the issues that will rebuild their working relationship.
  5. Agreement and Follow-Up – If a resolution is reached, we assist in drafting an informal agreement between the parties. We will follow-up after the mediation to assess progress and provide additional support if needed.

Contact HR Onsite Today

Don’t let workplace conflicts disrupt your business. Contact HR-Onsite today to resolve your workplace issues to create a more harmonious and productive work environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is workplace mediation appropriate?

Workplace mediation is suitable when relationships between employees become strained and both parties are willing to meet and discuss the issue in order to resolve their differences without formal grievance procedures.

How long does the mediation process take?

The length of the process is unlikely to last longer than one day to complete. The parties will meet with the mediator individually in the morning, with a joint session taking place during the afternoon.

What happens if mediation doesn’t work?

If mediation is unsuccessful, employees still have the option to raise a formal grievance or pursue other dispute resolution methods. It often helps to improve communication and understanding between employees making it a valuable tool even if a full resolution isn’t achieved.

Is workplace mediation legally binding?

No, it is not a legally binding process but any agreement reached can be documented and signed by both parties as a commitment to resolving the issue.

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