Importance Of Mediation In The Workplace

This essay examines workplace conflict that arises in supervisor-employee relationships and amid peers. Conflict may occur due to work performance issues which lead to disciplinary actions. For example, some examples of conflict include generational differences, discrimination allegations relating to sex, age, or disability; or general personality. As a means to resolve conflict, some employers establish dispute resolution programs within their organization such as mediation. Through the mediation process, a trained facilitator assists the parties with conflict resolution, which in some instances aids in restoring the continuing working relationship.

Employers that do not have a dispute resolution program within their organization run the

Mediation is essential in the workplace because it affords an opportunity for employees in dispute to communicate their position as well as consider the perspective of the other party ("Mediation in the Workplace – A Proactive Approach to Preventing Litigation and Promoting a Healthier Work Environment," 2011). The mediation process helps improve employee engagement and reduce the number of issues referred to a higher authority. The Employment Practices website (http://www.epspros.com/news-resources/whitepapers/2013-prior/mediation-in-the-workplace.html) provides useful information about the importance of mediation in the

Berner, Law Offices, n.d.). For example, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offers a mediation program for parties in dispute of discrimination issues pertaining to age, disability, race, and harassment ("Mediation Program," n.d.). However, workplace mediation provides an opportunity for opposing parties to voluntarily resolve disputes before the matter is reported or referred to the