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Workplace mediation and the empowerment of disputants: rhetoric or reality?
Author(s) -
Bennett Tony
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
industrial relations journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.525
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 1468-2338
pISSN - 0019-8692
DOI - 10.1111/irj.12012
Subject(s) - mediation , party directed mediation , rhetoric , conflict management , public relations , transformative mediation , style (visual arts) , alternative dispute resolution , empowerment , conflict resolution , political science , conciliation , social psychology , dispute resolution , sociology , psychology , law , linguistics , philosophy , archaeology , history
There has been a growing interest in the field of employee relations in the use of mediation in seeking to resolve disputes in the workplace. Mediation is a model of dispute resolution, it is argued, that lends itself particularly well to situations where the parties have become entrenched in their positions. The study's timeliness is evident in the G overnment's recent strategic focus on workplace conflict, specifically its current initiative to pilot mediation networks within the small and medium enterprises sector. The research was carried out over a nine‐month period ending in M arch 2012. It is based on the views and experiences of 60 respondents from over 40 cross‐sectoral organisations in the N orth of E ngland. Findings revealed that the main reasons for the disputes referred for mediation were relationship problems, poor communication and poorly perceived management style and practice. Significantly, differences in sector or occupation could also impact on whether cases went to mediation.