Employment Mediation

Workplace conflicts can quickly get out of hand. Unresolved tension and complaints can result in a deteriorating atmosphere that negatively impacts efficiency, productivity, and the bottom line.

A defining quality of mediation is its ability to redirect the parties toward each other, not by imposing solutions on them, but by assisting them to find a new and shared perception of their relationship and dispute – a perception that will change their attitude toward each other. With the assistance of a competent mediator, parties can explore opportunities for resolving a dispute in ways that meet their mutual needs. Moreover, they get to participate in a process that enables them to view their impasse as a problem to be solved, not as a battle to be won.

Whether the dispute is between management and workers or between employees, a reliable and trusted procedure for resolving these issues quickly and fairly must be in place. The mediation process is a proven way of allowing all parties in a dispute to have their say in a safe and professional environment. Mediation has been shown to be an effective dispute resolution option that is much cheaper, faster, less divisive, and more private than litigation – for all parties.

Employment mediation often deals with claims of wrongful termination, breach of contract, workplace harassment and discrimination, whistle-blower disputes, and a variety of civil rights laws. The key to a successful mediation is the neutral chosen to guide it. A mediator does not render a decision; rather, she listens, makes suggestions, and guides the conversation.

Joan Parker has more than thirty years of experience both regionally and nationally as a professional mediator with an expertise in employment relations and workplace conflict resolution. Dr. Parker earned her Ph.D. from Cornell University and has served as a professional neutral in both high-profile national cases as well as smaller local conflicts. She has successfully mediated individual claims as well as class action disputes. Dr. Parker is a mediator who is sought after because she has a proven track record of success.