Is Mediation Right for You?

Mediation is most effective as an early intervention tool for resolving conflict. When a conflict continues for a significant amount of time, the individuals involved often become more entrenched in their positions and it can become difficult to develop a mutually agreeable resolution. That being said, mediation has helped parties resolve workplace conflicts years or even decades in the making.

Workplace mediation services are most appropriate for interpersonal conflicts that result in:

• Poor communication
• Broken professional relationships
• Low workplace morale

Workplace mediation can also be appropriate for other types of conflict, such as:

• Work role and work boundary issues
• Conflicts stemming from misperceptions or miscommunications
• Unsubstantiated, borderline or first time EEO complaints

Please consider the following questions. If you answer "yes" to one or more of these questions, then workplace mediation might be right for you.

1. Have you recently noticed a decline in a professional relationship?
2. Do you have trouble communicating or collaborating with someone at work?
3. Do you feel that someone at work has treated you unfairly or disrespectfully?
4. Do you feel underappreciated by someone at work?
5. Is the personality or work style of someone at work making it difficult for you to be productive?