When you have gone through all the usual steps to resolve a dispute in the workplace, arbitration is the next step right?  Wrong.  While arbitration is a very useful tool in resolving conflict, it can be very expensive and, in many cases, unsatisfying for the parties involved.  The next natural step to resolving a conflict in the workplace is mediation.  Mediation is very inexpensive compared to other forms of dispute resolution as the parties can save up to 75% of the cost of arbitration.  Aside from the economic advantages, mediation is usually very satisfying to all parties involved.  Both parties get to express their position and why they hold such a position.  Arbitrators and litigation attorneys rarely care about the “why.”  Mediation can usually repair or improve the relationship between the parties. This means you can keep your job or keep the employee.  

Grievance mediation is the type of mediation designed to assist with disputes in the workplace (please take a moment to review the article included in this folder).  This includes employer-employee disputes arising from wrongful termination, disciplinary actions or harassment and employee-employee disputes.  Short of criminal conduct, almost any type of dispute in the workplace can be mediated.