In our recent Mediation Rescue Webinar with James Osborne of TRN, we explored the pivotal role empathy plays in resolving conflicts effectively—whether in the workplace, personal relationships, or business settings. This blog post dives deeper into one of the key takeaways from that discussion: how empathetic communication can transform conflicts from destructive confrontations to opportunities for mutual understanding.Continue reading →

1. Conflict is normal and unavoidable

Conflict is a normal and unavoidable aspect of human relationships. The really important thing is to be able to recognise it or to recognise the potential for conflict early enough to be able to avoid or minimise its capacity to cause damage.Continue reading →

The September 2024 CIPD Report “How employers are tackling bullying and harassment at work” reveals a troubling gap between how employers perceive their conflict resolution efforts and how employees experience those processes. For many employers, there is a belief that effective procedures are in place to manage workplace disputes. Unfortunately, employees often report a starkly different reality. This disconnect can lead to unresolved issues, ongoing workplace tension, and diminished employee morale.Continue reading →

Anticipatory Duty and Early Conflict Resolution: A Proactive Approach to Workplace Harassment

From 1 October 2024, employers will be required to take proactive steps to protect their employees from sexual harassment. It will no longer be enough to have an up-to-date sexual harassment policy and offer staff training. Employers must demonstrate that they’ve identified the risks and implemented appropriate protections.Continue reading →

I am going to stick my neck out and suggest that workplace mediation offers perhaps the largest untapped opportunity for cost-cutting and improving profitability in business in the UK today. The many benefits of a mediation culture, including lower levels of conflict, improved morale, improved staff retention and even improved relations with suppliers and customers are really important and are a big part of that business case, but are outside the scope of this article. I am going to focus here just on the cost savings in terms of management and HR time.Continue reading →