Workplace & Other Mediation
Mediation is increasingly being used in a wide range of areas of dispute resolution and the Portsmouth Mediation Service (PMS) is prepared to offer services in most people-oriented areas.
There is no limit to the types of bodies or range of problems or disputes which may benefit from using Mediation and contact should be made with the PMS to see how Mediation might be able to assist. Illustrations of possible scenarios are given below, but these are not exhaustive.
Workplace
Workplace Mediation is a specialty of the PMS. Disputes in the workplace may be between peers or managers and employees, board members and senior managers, etc. Workplace Mediation is normally undertaken at the PMS’s Office and, depending on the number of individuals involved and the type and scale of the dispute, will usually be covered in one day or two at the most.
Disputes referred for Mediation as early as possible are most likely to be resolved quickly and simply. As well as dealing with the issues giving rise to the problems, Mediation looks to the relationship between the individuals, fostering better understanding and more effective communication in the future.
For employers or organisations, Mediation offers a very cost-effective way forward and may well reduce the need for formal procedures or other actions (e.g. Employment Tribunals or the Courts).
Tenant / Landlord
Based on its experience through its Neighbour / Neighbourhood Mediation work, the PMS has extended the service which it is able to offer to include disputes between Tenants and Landlords. Landlords may also wish to commission the PMS for problems between individual Tenants.
Again, use of Mediation offers individuals and organisations a quick and low-cost route to try to resolve differences, achieving better relationships and paving the way for more effective direct and meaningful communication in the future. .
Contractors / Firms / Small Businesses / Retail Outlets / Statutory Bodies
Disputes between individuals and contractors (e.g. builders, trades-people) is another area in which the PMS may be able to assist those involved in finding a mutually satisfactory resolution to their disagreements and differences.
In some cases, disputes between individuals and professionals may also be dealt with by Mediation.
This may also apply when retail outlets have customers expressing dissatisfaction and usual “in-house” measures are not able to resolve those.
Mediation may have a role in assisting in Complaints processes, often enabling dissatisfactions to be resolved without the need for more formal or legal processes.
Within Households / Families
The Portsmouth Mediation Service, being people-focussed, often may be able to assist individuals living in families or households and between whom differences and disagreements have occurred. For example, teenagers and parents / grandparents, parents and in-laws, flat-sharers etc. This may also apply when the individuals no longer share the same home but have become estranged.
(However, please note that when divorce and access to children determined as a result of that is involved, the PMS is not able to assist.)
Contact the Portsmouth Mediation Service to see if it may be able to assist.