We often associate workplace dispute resolution with mediation; it’s increasingly the first course of action before going to an employment tribunal.

People Plan can provide you with a full mediation service to assist with the resolution of a disagreement, whether between employee and employer or between two employees.

Our advice is that mediation should not be used where:

- it would give the parties in dispute an excuse to not sort things out themselves

- there is an issue of ‘right and wrong’ to be determined

- there is a desire to avoid investigating an allegation of discrimination or harassment

- one party is not willing to engage.

And so it is important to eliminate these factors at the outset.  Mediation can be used as just one part of an overall improvement plan and in some cases it might not be necessary or appropriate. 

If you want to find out more about how mediation can work, ACAS provide a short online video for information purposes.  Click here to view.

Whilst mediation can address relationship issues it will not necessarily alleviate wider problems in which case, other interventions are available from People Plan.  These include:

• mentoring
• appropriate activities like joint problem solving, projects, skills analysis
• communication improvements
• performance management
• training and development, including coaching
• counselling.

All of these will be assessed, recommended and designed to suit the particular circumstances of the organisation and the individuals concerned.