Five Reasons Why Mediation Is Important In The Workplace

Five Reasons Why Mediation Is Important In The Workplace

Mediation brings together two or more parties; that have any type of issue that they cannot solve on their own to work with a neutral third party. Who can help them come to an agreement that both parties are satisfied with. It’s a powerful tool that many companies overlook, but mediation in the workplace can be incredibly effective at improving office morale and relationships between co-workers and solving disputes before they become major problems.

Learning how to do mediation effectively will help you resolve conflict quickly, relieve tension, and give you better relationships with your co-workers. Here are five reasons why mediation is important in the workplace.

1. It creates a healthier environment

In addition to your employees being happier and less stressed out, having a mediation programme can actually make them healthier. According to some studies, nearly 80% of all mediated disagreements are resolved through mediation and their organisation has benefited in terms of increased productivity and decreased sickness absences due to psychological problems (European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology).

Also, workers tend to think more positively about their workplaces after participating. They are also more committed to staying with their employer for longer periods of time. It’s good for them!

2. It helps resolve conflicts

While employees might hope they never have to deal with conflict, it’s inevitable. When conflicts arise, it’s best to approach them head-on. This way, you and your colleagues can discuss how you see a certain issue affecting your workplace. By doing so; you help make sure everyone is on board with any plans that need to be made.

The longer you wait for issues to get out of hand, the harder it becomes for everyone to agree on a solution; that works for everybody involved. If you’re able to resolve an issue through mediation before it gets too big; then you’re better off than if you had waited until it was already causing problems.

3. It is legal

It might seem odd to start with legality, but it’s critical that your employer not only understand why you want to mediate but also support it. The best way to ensure that is by making sure everyone understands mediation and its benefits for both parties. It may be valuable for employers to hear about it from someone other than their employees. A third-party mediator can provide impartial insight into what’s best for their company.

They might also be more willing to negotiate if they’re open-minded towards mediation. Remember, though, that as well as keeping your boss informed and onboard, you’ll need his sign-off—make sure you get a letter or email attesting to his approval before meeting with a mediator.

The question might also come up when workplace mediation is not appropriate. In certain cases, like if you have a previous work-related dispute with your employer, mediation may not be an option—your employer might not want to revisit that particular matter.

4. It can be done with an arbitrator present

This method allows two parties to agree to an arbitrator; who will make a final decision as to how a conflict should be resolved. Mediation and arbitration, both involve bringing together people with a dispute who aren’t sure how to resolve it, but mediation typically doesn’t end with someone making a legally-binding decision as arbitration does.

In fact, decisions made through alternative dispute resolution are generally more viable because they’re reached voluntarily by both sides; they’re also more affordable than going through litigation, which is much less common than alternative dispute resolution methods.

5. It improves trust between co-workers and employers

If you’re working at a company that uses mediation and collaborative dispute resolution, you know first-hand how helpful it can be. These practices encourage employees to speak up when there’s a problem rather than bottling things up or holding grudges. And because employers encourage both sides to meet and discuss their issues, these companies are often less likely to let problems fester.

Instead, they find solutions as soon as they arise—which not only saves time but also builds trust between co-workers and managers. People who go through mediation programmes feel more trusting toward management afterwards. It all starts with putting your differences aside and tackling them head-on.

Finally, with so many benefits to be gained from mediation in a company; there’s no reason not to include it as an option when settling disputes in your workplace. If you want to make sure everyone feels heard, then you need to make sure everyone has a chance to talk. The best way to do that is by seeking mediation before anything else.

It might seem like too much trouble or unnecessary, but doing so will give everyone involved a chance to discuss their concerns with impartial parties who can help both sides come up with solutions. By allowing mediation, companies demonstrate that they care about their employees while also maintaining their independence.