Workplace Mediation

Bob Bourne has extensive experience as a mediator. During his more than 20 years of volunteering as a mediator at the Center for Creative Justice (CCJ), a social service agency in Ames, Ia., he has mediated a variety of disputes that have included commercial, neighborhood, divorce, child custody modifications, interpersonal, and workplace conflicts.

In addition to the training he received over the years at CCJ, Bob also recently completed training at the Mediation Training Institute in Kansas City and is now certified as a workplace mediator (click here to view his certification). His mediation practice focuses on workplace conflicts, divorce, child custody, and neighborhood disputes.

The cost of workplace conflict is high, and it is quantifiable using the Mediation Training Institute’s toolbox. To determine how much workplace conflict costs your business, click here to complete a 30-second request form and they will send you the materials at no cost.

To achieve optimal results, Bob uses a process that consists of confidentially bringing two people together in a comfortable, neutral, safe setting to discuss the conflicts that are occurring. The participants first define the issue that causes the conflict. After this is defined, they then determine why the issue is important to them and why it causes conflict in their work life . Next, the participants brainstorm a wide range of solutions that address the “why” of the issue that they identified. After examining a range of ten to fifteen possible solutions, the participants develop an action plan to solve their conflict. The mediator records the action plan and it is distributed to the participants. Because it is a confidential process, the mediator does not keep any records of the content of the discussion.

Workplace mediation is a voluntary process and does not supplant the grievance process of the company or any other legal courses of action. The role of the mediator is to help facilitate the conversation and allow it to progress to a mutually beneficial agreement. The participants control the content of the conversation and only agree to actions that they are comfortable with and intend to implement.

Mediation is a powerful tool used by many progressive companies that value their employees. It can resolve many workplace problems when used properly. To calculate the benefits and return-on-investment of mediation, click here.