Brighton and Hove Independent Mediation Service

What is Workplace Mediation?

Mediation is a confidential and informal process used to help resolve workplace problems. Examples include communication breakdown between colleagues, complaints of harassment and grievances over workloads and alleged bullying.

Mediators listen to both sides of the dispute and work with the parties involved to find practical solutions to problems and to reach agreements between themselves.

Their job is to facilitate communication between people in order for them to arrive at mutually agreeable solutions and to improve working relationships.

The Benefits to the Organisation

• Mediation is a very cost effective way of dealing with workplace disputes. Sickness and absenteeism can be reduced and potential staff turnover can be avoided.
• Effective mediation can avoid expensive grievance procedures and employment tribunals. The mediation process takes one day on average as opposed to an average of 9 days of administrative and management time spent on a typical grievance case.
• Mediation encourages ideas and problem solving. "Blame culture" is discouraged.
• Improved relationships with colleagues will result in more effective teamwork and improved customer service.

These benefits will often lead to the following;

• Improved working relationships and staff morale.
• Retention of experienced staff.
• Increased motivation and a reduction in stress.
• Increased productivity and profitability.

The Benefits to the Individual

• Conflict can usually be resolved quickly. The people involved will know their issues are being acknowledged and consequently feel appreciated and valued as an employee.
• It is a confidential process which encourages people to talk openly to someone impartial without any restrictions.
• The process often improves working relationships and works towards win/win outcomes.

The Principles of Mediation

• Mediation is voluntary. The parties involved agree to mediation before any meetings takes place.
• Mediation is completely confidential. Anything discussed does not go beyond the mediators and the parties in dispute. All notes taken and used to find a resolution are destroyed on the day.
• Mediators are impartial and do not take sides.
• Mediation is solution/ agreement focused. Those involved offer and agree the solutions themselves.

Why chose The Brighton Mediation Service?

• We are an independent service with 20 years experience in mediation. .
• We use highly experienced accredited mediators from a wide variety of professional backgrounds.
• As a charity not only can we offer very competitive rates for our services. The fees received for our workplace mediation service help to fund our organisation to continue providing mediation to the local community.
• When a referral is made parties are contacted within two working days. Mediation is usually held within two weeks of receiving the referral.
• We are effective, 98% would recommend our service to others.

"I would recommend this way of resolving work conflict to others. The outcome was good, I got an apology, working relations have resumed"

The Mediation Process – a neutral third party intervenes in a workplace dispute to help the parties reach a satisfactory outcome.

Workplace mediation is usually undertaken in one day. Mediators facilitate communication between parties which establishes a safe environment for parties to work towards restoring a positive working relationship.

The mediation process is divided into five key stages;

1. Setting up The mediation/ Making contact and gathering information
2. First Pre- mediation meeting with the parties
3. Second pre- mediation meeting
4. Direct mediation (joint meetings)
5. Outcomes/ closing the case

1. Setting up the Mediation

• The mediation service takes initial enquiries by email or over the telephone. They will help you to decide whether mediation is suitable for the conflict situation you are concerned about.

2. First Pre Mediation Meeting

The first meeting is where the mediator meets each party individually. The purpose of this meeting is;

• To explain the role of the mediator and the mediation process
• To listen to the history of the situation, participants needs and possible solutions

3. The Second Pre Mediation Meeting

The purpose of the second individual meeting is to agree a way forward, including the preparation of the joint mediation meeting

4. The Joint Mediation Meeting

The joint meeting will usually take place in the afternoon of the mediation day. Once the ground rules have been agreed each party will have the opportunity to tell their story.

Our mediators are independent so there are no pre-conceived ideas or judgments. The role of the mediator during the joint meeting is to act as a facilitator, ensure that ground rules are adhered to, ask open questions, summarise what is said and generally lead the meeting in a positive manner whilst ensuring that everyone's point of view is considered.

5. Outcomes/ Closing the case

Each mediation is different so the outcomes will vary. It is important that the parties have the opportunity to talk and agree what they want to happen in the future. Possible outcomes may include:

• An action plan
• An agreement of understanding outlining how the participants will interact in the future
• Future mediation
• Any outcome will be put in writing as a record for the participants

Mediation is only as effective as you want it to be. If you want to find a solution, you will find it.