In essence it is a 'confidential safe space' constructed to allow the parties to work through the underlying issues that exist between them and find ways that will allow them to move forward in an agreed and positive manner. It is best done in a face-to-face environment but it can be equally successful through the use of virtual rooms.

The mediator will meet both parties separately and look to understand how they are feeling, why they are feeling the way they do and importantly how they would like to feel. When the mediator feels the time is right, he or she will bring the parties together so they can start to have a conversation with each other, looking to find an outcome that they are both able to support going forward.

The process is completely between those involved in the mediation and the only written document that will exist after the mediation has ended will (hopefully) be the Agreement that the parties have created between themselves and signed up to.

Formal processes can result in entrenched positions that people find they cannot back away from. From an employee perspective they are stressful and often frustrating given that outcomes are often not transparent. The perspective for an employer is that they are time consuming and ultimately costly if the outcome is one party leaving the business, resulting in recruitment costs, loss of efficiency whilst training a new hire etc.

Workplace mediation is quick, cost effective, potentially less stressful for the parties involved and most importantly can result in outcomes that would never be possible through use of formal procedures.

If Mediation does not work then nothing has been lost. Employees can still pursue formal procedures both internally and externally. All that has occurred is that a pause has been put in place to try and create an environment where they can resolve their differences and move forward.

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