Unfortunately, when it comes to workplace conflicts, it appears employers and managers have traditionally been more resistant to this idea, opting instead to take a hard-line with employees, that as escalated what might initially have been a small issue into a much bigger problem. The end result could be the loss of talented staff, the cost of replacing that person, the effect on the rest of the team members.
Thankfully, corporate attitudes are shifting as business owners, managers and human resources departments increasingly adopt independent mediation processes to deliver early dispute resolution within the workplace and teams.
Used early, it can help restore positive working relationships, often making them even stronger than before the fall out.
Mediation at the HR Department
In response to this growing demand for more amicable, less disruptive conflict resolution, the HR Department is delighted to announce the launch of its new dedicated Mediation department.
In order to deliver an unrivalled service, the HR Department has appointed Roisin O’Neill to head up the new department. With more than 10 years’ dedicated experience, working with a wide range of private clients and public, and voluntary organisations, Ms. O’Neill is a specialist in mediation and early conflict resolution.
David Bell, CEO of The HR Department, comments, ‘For more than 10 years the HR Department has supported businesses big and small throughout Ireland, ensuring they were compliant with employment law and working with them boost retention and productivity through effective employee engagement. The launch of our dedicated mediation service is the next step in delivering an unrivalled outsourced HR service to our customers. We’re delighted to welcome Roisin, and the vast wealth of experience she has to offer, to the team.
What is Mediation
Mediation is a voluntary process whereby those in dispute meet with a neutral mediator, to discuss the issues and solutions in private and work to secure a resolution and mutual agreement moving forward.
Mediation unlike other forms of dispute resolution such as grievance or disciplinary processes is not adversarial in nature; rather it promotes solution finding, active listening, open communication and self-empowerment.
Why it Works
Its high success rate can be attributed to the fact that it allows those in dispute to creatively and collectively come up with their own solutions. It allows them, in private, to get to the root cause of issues, focusing on problem solving rather than asserting blame. Moreover, mediation enables participants to have their say without feeling judged, promoting empowerment rather than fear or pointing the finger.
Outsourcing your conflict resolution needs to a third party neutral can save business time, money and energy. The use of early independent mediation can free up human resource and management time to concentrate on other important business matters that was otherwise side-lined dealing with internal conflict.
Ms. O’Neill adds, ‘Gone are the days of the bullish boss and the “my way or the highway attitude”. Employers are keen to keep their best workers, to limit disruption and to focus on growing their businesses. Mediation is a proven approach to conflict resolution. With the majority of cases being resolved within one working day, it’s no surprise that demand is growing.
The HR Department has earned a strong reputation as a leading provider of outsourced HR services and I’m keen to build upon that reputation, making it a leader in mediation too.’
For more information about the HR Department’s new mediation service Click Here