Workplace Mediation

Working with colleagues, line managers and HR Professionals to reduce tension in the workplace

What is Workplace Mediation?

Workplace mediation is a structured and supported series of conversations, carried out over several days or weeks, between the co-workers and the impartial third party, known as the mediator, to help co-workers, employees or other stakeholders within a workplace resolve conflicts, disputes, or disagreements in a collaborative and constructive manner.

The goal is to improve communication, repair relationships, and reach a mutually acceptable resolution without escalating the situation further, to restore and improve a better working relationship.

Workplace mediation can help co-workers, employees and other stakeholders to avoid or pause, grievance or disciplinary procedures, or employment tribunal procedures, and resolve the situation through workplace mediation instead.

Why Choose Us?

Whether you're facing individual conflicts, business disagreements, or workplace challenges, Cerno Thames is equipped to guide you through the process. We encourage your early engagement in our services; this not only prevents conflict escalation but also maintains positive relationships and productivity.

Through our neutral professional mediators, we help individuals and businesses navigate disagreements and arrive at agreeable solutions.

Our approach to workplace mediation is designed to empower colleagues, with the unbiased guidance of a professional mediator, to explore and discuss the workplace situation safely, and agree on appropriate solutions, so they can work together in the future.

Key Benefits of Mediation

By prioritising cooperation over confrontation, businesses can save resources, preserve relationships, and swiftly return their focus to growth and success.

Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Reduces stress and anxiety, compared to formal HR procedures, improving mental health and well-being.

Positive Workplace

Maintains a positive work environment, reducing further disputes.

Preserves Relationships

Foster and maintain valuable workplace relationships by reaching mutually acceptable agreements.

Confidential and Private

Keep sensitive information safe and discussions discreet.

Empowers Decision-Making

You are in control of your outcomes to make your own decisions.

Flexibility

Mediation provides a truly wide range of possible outcomes and you can agree terms that a court ordinarily could not.

When to use
Workplace Mediation

Mediation is particularly effective for resolving:

Communication Breakdowns:

Misunderstandings and miscommunications are common in any workplace.

Behavioural Clashes:

Interpersonal differences can lead to tension and conflict.

Misunderstandings About Job Duties:

Clarity on roles and responsibilities can prevent future disputes.

What's involved in Workplace Mediation?

Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process. It typically involves:

Preparation:

The mediator discusses the process with the parties involved and gathers relevant information.

Individual Exploratory Meetings:

The mediator meets with the co-workers individually to explore and understand the situation from their individual perspectives.

Joint Meeting:

All parties meet to discuss the issues, guided by the mediator.

Agreement Phase:

Solutions are proposed, and an agreement is reached that satisfies all parties.

What's HR's involvement in Workplace Mediation?

HR Professionals are pivotal in supporting the mediation process. They ensure that mediation aligns with company policies and that all participants understand their roles and responsibilities. HR's involvement helps maintain compliance and provides a structured approach to conflict resolution. HR instructs the Cerno Thames mediator to come in and mediate the situation or dispute.

"‘Kevin has completed several workplace mediations for Oxford Brookes so far this year, and the feedback from parties is consistently good. In each case Kevin has helped parties move their situation along towards resolution and helped them improve their working relationship."

Jessica Loveday, People Manager

Oxford Brookes University'

Commonly Asked Questions About Workplace Mediation

Workplace mediation is a voluntary and confidential process where a neutral third party, the mediator, helps individuals in conflict to discuss their differences and find a mutually acceptable solution to work together in the future. Mediation focuses on collaboration and understanding.
Any party involved in a workplace conflict can request mediation at any time. The process can also be suggested by management as a means to resolve disputes, as an alternative to a grievance procedure, either before it starts, or one that may have started already. Workplace mediation can be started at any time. Generally, you can initiate the request by speaking with your HR department or contacting a designated mediation coordinator within your organisation.
During a mediation session, all parties involved in the conflict meet with the mediator both individually and in a joint meeting, in a structured setting. This can be either in-person or online, or a mixture of the two. The sessions provide a safe environment for participants to share their views and work towards a resolution. Sessions typically last between a few hours, and they are spread out over 3-6 weeks, allowing all parties time to think and reflect between sessions. Sometimes additional individual or joint sessions are required depending on the complexity of the issues at hand.
Yes, mediation sessions are confidential. The discussions and any agreements reached are not disclosed to others outside the mediation process without consent. This includes the company HR team or any other leaders or managers. The confidentiality encourages openness and honesty by both parties, during the sessions.
The mediator facilitates the process, guiding discussions and helping participants identify issues and explore solutions. The participants actively engage in the conversation, share their perspectives, and collaborate on finding a resolution. Decisions are reached through mutual agreement among the parties, not imposed by the mediator.
Mediation is suitable for a variety of workplace disputes, including interpersonal conflicts, communication breakdowns, and misunderstandings. However, issues involving serious misconduct, legal violations, or some matters requiring formal investigations may not be appropriate for mediation. You are advised to take guidance from your HR department.
If mediation isn’t suitable or successful, arbitration or court proceedings may be considered for resolution.

For business owners seeking a more efficient, cost-effective, and amicable means of resolving disputes, mediation stands out as an attractive option.