Workplace & Employment Mediation

Workplace Mediation

Workplace mediation is a fast and cost-efficient way of helping work colleagues who are in conflict to resolve their dispute.  It is used while the employment relationship continues and focuses on helping the participants to find practical solutions rather than attributing blame. 

I use a number of mediation techniques which help particpants shift their perception of their dispute and therefore make small changes to the way in which they interact with each other.  

I mediate workplace and team disputes in both the private and public sectors, and cover all types of dispute including:

• Bullying / harassment / personality clashes
• Long-term sickness (often caused by work-related stress)
• Communication breakdowns
• Discrimination issues
• Dysfunctional teams

Workplace mediation is a staged process requiring careful planning.  The process is usually initiated by the employer (with the agreement of the employee/s) and the employer will usually pay for the mediation service.

The workplace mediation process will usually start with a background briefing to the mediator by the client and is typically followed by a series of individual meetings between the mediator and the parties.  These individual meetings are then usually followed by a joint meeting of all parties. Sometimes further individual meetings take place after the joint meeting.

Guidance Note - Workplace Mediations

Employment Mediation

Employment mediation generally takes place when the employment relationship has ended and a dispute exists between the employee and the employer.  This will often be in the form of a claim or potential claim in the employment tribunal or, in some cases, in court.  Employment mediations usually take place over the course of one day.  

My 20 years’ experience as a City employment solicitor and employment judge gives me a unique perspective on employment disputes. I mediate all types of employment and discrimination dispute, including:

• Breach of contract claims
• Compromise agreement disputes
• Data protection
• Discrimination / harassment
• Redundancy payments
• References
• Restrictive covenants and confidentiality
• Shareholder disputes
• TUPE 
• Unfair dismissal

Details about how to prepare for an employment mediation and a summary of what to expect at an employment mediation can be found in the attached guidance note.  Remember that preparation is key to a successful mediation; the better you prepare the more likely you are to reach a settlement.

Guidance Note - Preparing for an employment mediation

Guidance Note - The Mediation Day