Mediation Services in the Workplace, Community and Business

Workplace mediation services provided by members of the Mediators Institute of Ireland (MII) can be a valuable resource for resolving conflicts in the workplace. Mediation is effective:

In conflict prevention and management
In single-issue and multi-issue disputes
In two-people or multi-party conflicts
For developing innovative and sustainable solutions when parties are willing but stuck
As a preventive intervention early in a conflict
As a last-ditch effort to avoid further costly and public litigation

Mediation is a process in which the mediator helps two or more parties in a dispute to reach a mutually acceptable resolution.

Mediators who are members of the MII are trained and experienced professionals who are committed to upholding the highest standards of mediation practice. They can provide a range of services to employers and employees, including conflict resolution, communication skills training, and team-building exercises.

Workplace mediation can be a highly effective way to resolve disputes in the workplace, as it allows parties to come to a resolution that is mutually acceptable and avoids the need for costly and time-consuming legal proceedings.

Mediation can also help to improve communication and relationships between employees, which can lead to a more positive and productive work environment.

If you are experiencing a conflict in the workplace, it may be worth considering the services of a mediator.

A mediator can work with you and the other parties involved to find a resolution that works for everyone, and can help to prevent the conflict from escalating further.

Workplace mediation services can be a valuable resource for resolving conflicts in the workplace and can be a highly effective alternative to legal proceedings.

Here are some suggested ground rules for mediation participants:

1. We agree to take turns speaking and to try to not interrupt each other.

2. We agree to call each other by our first names, not "he" or "she" or worse.

3. We will ask questions of each other for the purposes of gaining clarity and understanding and not as attacks.

4. We agree to try to avoid establishing hard positions and express ourselves in terms of our needs and desires and the outcomes that we wish to create.

5. We agree to listen respectfully and sincerely try to understand the other's needs and interests.

6. We recognize that, even if we do not agree with it, each of us is entitled to our own perspective.

7. We will seek to avoid dwelling on things that did not work in the past, and instead focus on the future we want to create.

8. We agree to make a conscious, sincere effort to refrain from unproductive arguing, venting, and narration and agree to use our time in mediation to work toward what we perceive to be our most constructive agreement possible.

9. We will speak up if something is not working for us in the mediation.

10. We will request a break if helpful.

11. While in mediation, we will refrain from furthering adversarial legal proceedings, except in the case of an emergency necessitating such action.

The following elements are required for any mediation meeting to take place:

• Impartial skilled negotiator (mediator)
• Voluntary participation (on the part of the disputing parties)
• Confidential Process
• Informal and Flexible
• Decisions based on Consensus of the disputing parties
• Focused on the future to achieve a 'gain-gain' result and desire to resolve the conflict

Workplace mediation can greatly benefit your organisation by reducing conflicts and improving communication among employees.

By addressing workplace issues early on, mediation can help prevent small problems from escalating into larger disputes that can be time-consuming and costly to resolve.

Mediation also promotes a more positive work environment, which can lead to increased productivity, higher employee morale, and decreased turnover rates.

Furthermore, workplace mediation can often be quicker and less expensive than traditional legal action.

By investing in workplace mediation, you can not only save your organisation time and money, but also promote a more harmonious and productive workplace.

Are you experiencing workplace conflicts with your colleagues or manager?

Type of situations suitable for mediation include:

Interpersonal disputes
Performance issues
Allegations of bullying and harassment
Difficulties arising from organisational change
Intercultural issues
Issues with the employer

My professional workplace mediation service can help. As a trained mediator, I offer a confidential, 100% independent from your employer and impartial service to help resolve disputes and improve working relationships.

By using my service, you can save time, money, and avoid the stress and negative impact that conflicts can have on your work and mental wellbeing.

My approach is collaborative, respectful, and focused on finding practical solutions that work for everyone involved.

Your employer may have a mediation service already in place to support such issues and if you are happy to use their service this is an option. Don't forget to find out if your employer has other employee support services which are usually confidential and don't cost you.

Don't let workplace conflict affect your home life and job satisfaction - contact me today to learn how I can help.

Following an EU Directive, the Mediation Act was enacted in Ireland in 2017.

The Act came into force on 1st January 2018 and established a statutory framework designed to promote the resolution of disputes through mediation as a viable, efficient and cost-effective alternative to court proceedings.

Various published statistics suggest the mediation process enjoys a 65% to 80% success rate.

The ICMA announced findings from a survey which issued to the Managing Partners of more than 3,500 Law and Accountancy firms as well as Barristers and other professionals. The respondents said that the key advantage of commercial mediation is cost saving, stating that their clients could save up to 70% compared with litigation

The Financial Services & Pension Ombudsman (FSPO) 2019 published figures show that of the 1,399 complainants who received redress and/or compensation 983 of these were resolved through mediation.

However, each dispute or conflict is unique and I am unable to guarantee or make any claim as to the outcome of any mediation case I manage.