Workplace Mediation Service

Information

The Workplace Mediation Service is a service of the Labour Relations Commission which aims to resolve workplace disputes and disagreements, particularly between individuals or small groups.

This confidential service gives employees and employers in dispute with each other an opportunity to work with a mediator to find a mutually agreed solution to the problem. Workplace mediation is a voluntary process which needs to have both sides agreeing to participate and to work towards a solution to the problem.

If no agreed solution is reached, other ways of resolving the issues will have to be used. In that situation the mediator will assist the participants to decide how best to proceed. You can read more about enforcing your employment rights here.

Why use workplace mediation?

The advantage of using workplace mediation is that it allows a problem to be resolved informally, by ensuring that all the sides are heard. The process also means that participants are involved in finding an agreed solution. As they work together to solve the problem, the resolution of it is in the control of the participants. Where they are committed to a mutually agreed solution it is likely to be more effective and last longer. Also, as workplace mediation is used before the issue is referred to other statutory dispute resolution bodies such as the Rights Commissioner Service there is no duplication.

The type of situations that are dealt with by the Workplace Mediation Service include:

• Where there are personal differences or people have problems working together
• Where a working relationship has broken down
• Where issues have arisen from a grievance and disciplinary procedure
• Where there are industrial relations issues which have not been referred to a statutory body such as the Rights Commissioner Service or the Labour Court.