Workplace Mediation

Mediation is dispute problem solving. Every conflict contains the seeds for a productive resolution, however people in conflict tend to fight, damaging the potential for resolution. Conflict tends to make people competitive, adversarial, aggressive and hostile because of instinct, habit and strategy. People in conflict need a mediator to help them resolve or overcome those conflict behaviours. A mediator can help disputing parties move from antagonism to negotiation to resolution.

What is the role of the Mediator?
The mediator is an impartial third party, usually not known to either party. Their role is to guide the process toward solution/resolution. A skilled mediator, having established rapport and trust with disputing parties, can help them to:

  • manage the negotiation process
  • address every issue
  • separate the people from the problem
  • explore all possible resolutions

What is Workplace Mediation?
Mediation can be used for any type of conflict or dispute whether it be between couples, employees/employers, neighborhoods, etc. Workplace Mediation is becoming a highly sought after process within Canadian workplaces, as a process by which to settle conflict before it escalates. The process may address such issues as:

  • harassment
  • work performance issues
  • termination
  • discipline
  • business

The Cost of Workplace Conflict
Unresolved workplace conflict occurs when an unresolved complaint or disagreement with some other person(s) or the employer is causing significant distress or adverse emotion. Resolving such conflict doesn't mean that the adversaries will come to like each other or that conflicting interests or emotions will be completely eliminated. They probably won't! Generally it means that, having recognized and discussed their adverse personal feelings and conflicting interests, people have resolved to work productively in spite of them. Every unresolved workplace conflict will result in some personal, social and economic costs, such as the following:.

Personal Costs:

  • anxiety, resentment, bitterness, anger
  • stress, strain
  • dissatisfaction with work, disinterest, loss of motivation
  • physical or psychological illness
  • marital or personal problems

Social Costs:

  • negative workplace environment
  • declining morale
  • deteriorating relationships
  • withdrawal from participation in workplace events

Economic Costs:

  • increased absenteeism
  • increased sick leave
  • decreased productivity
  • increased accidents

What is the Role of Family Plus/Life Solutions?
Family Plus/Life Solutions provides trained Mediators to work with you to resolve your workplace issues. Our Mediators will meet with your organization to assess the situation, then determine the most appropriate course of action to work towards resolution. Your company will be billed for the time the Mediator spends on the issue.

For more information on this service, please contact us by phone at:
(506) 634-8295 or (800) 360-3327;
or
e-mail info@familyplus.ca. (Emails may not necessarily be checked on a regular basis. If you need immediate service, please contact us by phone at 506-634-8295.)

Other Workplace Programs: Employee Assistance Programs, Training Programs, Mediation, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.