Acas research, ‘Estimating the costs of workplace conflict’, shows that the cost of workplace conflict in the UK may reach nearly £30 billion per year. There is no escaping that that is a colossal sum to lose down the back of the national sofa, especially where a fair chunk of it is avoidable.

There are very few people who haven’t experienced some form of conflict at work at some point in their career. Managers fall out with their direct reports over performance issues, team members come to blows as a result of differing working styles ...

It is all very well for HR or Legal to be convinced of the merits of mediation as a dispute resolution tool in the workplace, but that will remain just a good idea unless the parties to the dispute can be convinced to give it a go.

Professor Cam Wareham BSc, PGCert, LLM (Dist), DMedSc, DPodSurg, FCIArb, FRCPodS, FRCPS(Glasgow) is a respected Arbitrator and Mediator specialising in Dispute Resolution ...

Workplace conflict can cause significant anxiety, writes Alexandra Efthymiades, yet conflict conversations can be managed in ways that minimise stress for those who are involved.

“Your work is shit” is a phrase that Steve Jobs is known for saying. When asked about it, he would explain that his colleagues knew how much he respected them and how brilliant they were so they just needed to know what they were doing wrong.

In such an ethnically and culturally diverse world of today, conflict resolution and the role of mediators are getting more and more important.

As a workplace and commercial mediator, I see many different cultures in organisations. Frequently I am engaged to help resolve a specific conflict in the workforce or governing body that ...

“Your work is shit” is a phrase that Steve Jobs is known for saying. When asked about it, he would explain that his colleagues knew how much he respected them and how brilliant they were so they just needed to know what they were doing wrong.

As Geoffrey Vos says, we are, “on the brink of a revolution in dispute resolution” and ADR should no longer be viewed as alternative ...

With the practice of Ubuntu Archbishop Desmond Tutu left the world a precious gift: a virtuous circle of spiritual generosity and inclusivity to resolve conflict in a troubled world.

There are very few people who haven’t experienced some form of conflict at work at some point in their career. Managers fall out with their direct reports over performance issues, team members come to blows as a result of differing working styles ...

Developing resilience has long been recognized as a means of surviving individual crises, extreme change and difficulties in interpersonal interactions and relationships.

“The key skill that differentiates survivors from the rest in times of change, challenge and crisis is the ability to acknowledge, understand and manage conflict”

In such an ethnically and culturally diverse world of today, conflict resolution and the role of mediators are getting more and more important.

With the practice of Ubuntu Archbishop Desmond Tutu left the world a precious gift: a virtuous circle of spiritual generosity and inclusivity to resolve conflict in a troubled world.

‘Prevention is better than Cure’ – we all know this is true and though every organisation large and small can head off disaster – very…

By Mia Forbes Pirie and Graham Ross In this time of self-isolation online mediation becomes more relevant than ever. There are, of course, advantages and…

By Mia Forbes Pirie Learning to have challenging conversations improves everything Inability to have difficult conversations is one of the most significant issues that gets…

Independent Mediators is home to a group of Europe’s leading full-time civil and commercial mediators, nationally and internationally recognised for their work. Independent Mediators (IM)…

By Irene Grindell I have been training mediators for 20 years, I thought you might be interested in learning about some of my tricks that…

Cara de Lange, Burnout Expert, Speaker, Founder & Author of Softer Success Have you noticed conflict in your workplace? Cara de Lange, Founder & CEO…

By Andrew Miller It is probably pure coincidence that 2019 marks both the 50th Anniversary of the first lunar landing and the signing ceremony for… FacebookTwitterShare

By Roger Levitt Summary – Margaret Mitchell MSP for Central Scotland is proposing a Mediation Bill (supported by the Scottish Government) to apply for Scotland…

By Martin Plowman With an increasing number of Mediation books now being published, ‘Zen and the Art of Mediation’ offers a fresh approach to understanding…

Independent Mediators is home to a group of Europe’s leading full-time civil and commercial mediators, nationally and internationally recognised for their work. Independent Mediators (IM)…

By Mary Banham-Hall, LLB FMCA Mediator, Focus Mediation Professional Associations are increasingly helping their members resolve time-consuming and unpleasant complaints using mediators to do this… FacebookTwitterShare

By David Liddle, Founder and CEO of The TCM Group Binary, reductive, irrational, rigid, dogmatic, intransigent, combative, destructive, dysfunctional, aggressive, childish, dismissive. Doing my utmost…

By Anna Shields, Director and Co-founder, Consensio I’ve recently discovered a new podcast entitled ‘Heavyweight’, and I’m hooked! The show is hosted by Jonathan Goldstein…

By Peter Causton, Director, ProMediate (UK) Limited One question facing employers trying to resolve employment claims, and indeed general civil claims, is “should we include…

By Susanne Schuler, Mediator and Director of Training and Consultancy, CEDR (www.cedr.com) Current conflicts around the world, such as those in Syria, Crimea and Yemen,…

ADR ODR International Are negotiation skills important to have? Quite simply, we negotiate every day without even realising it. It could be with our partners,…

By David A Evans, In Place of Strife David A Evans is a specialist in Executive and Workplace Mediation, with over 30 years’ experience in…

Independent Mediators is home to a group of Europe’s leading full-time civil and commercial mediators, nationally and internationally recognised for their work. Independent Mediators (IM)…

By Tania Coke, Senior Mediation Consultant at Consensio In Japan, interpersonal relations are governed by the notion of “wa”. According to this philosophy, individuals are…

By Roger Levitt Where to start!? There are so many examples around the world at present of the negative, confrontational rhetoric which is more divisive…

By Dr. Lorraine Dacre Pool, PhD, CPsychol, University of Central Lancashire & Emma McAndry, Reader in Mediation, University of Central Lancashire The University of Central…

By Caroline Sheridan, Chair, CMC Workplace and Employment Group When I wrote my piece in the UK Mediation Journal in June 2017 about the “manifesto”…

By Paul Adams, CEO, CMC. New CEO Having joined CMC in June 2018, I am undoubtedly a new comer to the world of mediation and…

The National Mediation Awards (NMA) took place in Mediation Awareness Week, in early October. The event, which the Civil Mediation Council jointly hosted with the…

First rule of Conflict Resolution is the exact opposite. Dialogue is the way forward. Conflict Coaching encourages people to get out of their own way and find solutions that get their needs met, by using tried and tested techniques.

71 countries across 4 continents. 65% of the world’s population. 1/3 of Global GDP. 4 – 8 trillion USD overall investment. These are just a handful of the eye-watering numbers associated with one of the largest infrastructure and investment projects in history

“The CFO and the Director of Operations are at loggerheads – they can’t agree on anything.The problem is that both of them are very valuable to the organisation and we don’t want to lose either of them. Can you help?”

Mediation for the resolution of conflict can be best illustrated in cases where a positive outcome is seemingly intractable. However, mediation, effective dialogue and progressive and collaborative negotiation can break deadlock. Cases that involve environmental disputes are good examples of this.

What do Brexiteers, Trump supporters, and Islamic fundamentalists all have in common? Throughout the latter half of 2016, many of us stood scratching our heads in bewilderment at the astonishing ...

What brings families to fight and fall out over property, wills, probate or money – or all of them?

Independent Mediators Limited is a group of leading, full time commercial mediators whose independent practices are centrally managed. The company operates both in the UK and internationally.

Almost 4 out of 5 people who suffer sexual harassment do not report it. That is what Frances O’Grady, Secretary General of the TUC, finds most worrying.

Today’s workplace is an increasingly diverse environment with a melting pot of challenges and obstacles for organisations and leaders to navigate through.

ADR-ODR International is the first company to bridge the gap between traditional face-to-face ADR and the digital world of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR).

I’ve recently become aware in myself of two very different voices. One I call my social voice. It is a respectable, adult voice, which justifies things on the basis of logic and social convention.

We get the call… fire fire, fire fire! “Please help – there’s a relationship breakdown requiring emergency intervention.”

My research examined the practice of in-house workplace mediators in British universities. For these practitioners, mediation is an occasional activity – an adjunct to their main roles – and they typically ...

How does confidentiality work in workplace mediation when HR needs to manage the implementation of any agreement? One of the advantages traditionally billed for workplace mediation as an alternative to formal dispute resolution processes is confidentiality.

Total Conflict Management or TCM® is a hybrid of Total Quality Management (TQM) and Integrated Conflict Management Systems (ICMS).

The 10th annual Mediation Symposium organised by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) on 27 September 2017, proved to be a full house with high profile speakers shedding light on the fascinating topic ...

A skilled mediator, trainer and conflict coach, Mia specialises in resolving difficult conflict as well as providing mediation skills training.

The UK is still in the EU alongside Germany, yet recently I was surprised when working with a German accredited Mediator how practices and techniques differ greatly between our two countries.

Brexit negotiations continue to hit the headlines – predominantly due to their lack of progress. It is eight months since Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50 and with just sixteen months to go until Britain leaves the EU, there is still a huge amount to negotiate.

The accusations of sexual harassment in Hollywood against Harvey Weinstein have seen a tide of allegations ripple around the globe.

International mediation is simultaneously hard to avoid, and hard to find. Matthew Rushton explores the international paradox, and where it might lead.

In helping parties to resolve their differences, an effective mediator needs to give attention both to issues and relationships. While the content of the dispute, whether war or widgets, is plainly critical, so is how those involved understand one another.

Andrew Miller QC is QC mediator with over 25 years of experience of dealing with and resolving commercial disputes. He mediates in a wide range of commercial sectors both domestically and internationally and has been involved in mediation since 1996.

Independent Mediators Limited is a group of leading, full time commercial mediators whose independent practices are centrally managed. The company operates both in the UK and internationally.

Government reports from the Office for Disability Issues consistently point to the ongoing need for disability mediation in the civil and commercial sectors ...

In October this year the Civil Justice Council’s Working Group published an interim report on ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution’, seen as bringing compulsory mediation in the civil justice system a step closer.

Conflict has been said to be part of the human condition. Small wonder then that it’s also part of the workplace condition. But just how common is it? How big are the costs? And what are organisations doing in response?

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a community and mental health trust providing a wide range of services to people of all ages living in Berkshire.

Like a good wine, mediation can and does travel well. There will be different variations on mediation (be it commercial or workplace) often reflecting local palettes ...

The Employee Benefit & Rewards Forum (employeebenefitsforum.co.uk) took place earlier this month, giving 65+ senior HR, Training and Benefits professionals the opportunity to meet new suppliers, network with peers and learn from insightful seminar sessions.

Angry partners or distressed directors need to resolve their problems quickly and amicably. Otherwise it could cost them hard-earned money as well as peace of mind.

Employers value ex-service people’s skills and experience as a core. On paper what’s missing are the soft skills. However wrong this perception might be in relation to modern service people’s training ...

Workplace Mediation has so arrived. I mean, it’s here now, right, so let’s just use it people. Forget, like, courts, investigation blah, blah. They’re history, get over it, join the real world. Wake up and smell the moccachino.

There seems to be a certain word in the English language that organisations avoid at all costs. This word is only mentioned by a few brave individuals in hushed whispers, like any other word that we perceive as a taboo.

At the CMC Workplace Mediation event in Solihull held in October, the majority of speakers and participants expressed their profound disappointment at the continued low level of take-up of mediation in workplace and employment disputes.

On 29 November 2017, The Professional Mediators Association (PMA) was formally amalgamated with Civil Mediation Council. CMC warmly welcomes all past PMA members to their new home.

2017 has been a very successful year for CMC vigorously demonstrated by the success of the many events which took place around the country. The Workplace Sub-Group launched a series of national workplace ...

By Amanda Bucklow, Chair, Communications Committee, CMC A decision in a costs case handed down earlier this year, Savings Advice Ltd & Anor v EDF…

By Tania Coke, Senior Mediation Consultant, Consensio Witnessing British politics of late has been a stark reminder of the dangers of polarisation. In the EU…

By Paul Randolph, Board Member, CMC With stunning clairvoyance, the CMC named this year’s conference: “Mediating in Uncertain Times”! The Pre-Conference Dinner It was entirely…

By Chris Reeves, M4C Constructing Excellence South West’s Construction Mediation Guide and Protocol was launched at the Construction Summit held at Ashton Gate Stadium in…

By Roger Levitt Mediation is a highly effective form of dispute resolution. Litigation and court proceedings can be expensive, time consuming and emotionally draining for… FacebookTwitterShare

By Marc Reid, Director, Mediation4 ‘You don’t need an electrician’ I said to myself as I stared blankly at the results of my Google search…

NHS Lothian – Scotlands largest NHS organisation, employs 24,000 staff providing health services to the second largest residential population in Scotland. NHS Lothian faces the… FacebookTwitterShare

I have been a union representative in the NHS for seventeen years. For the last eight years, I have used that position to promote sincere…

By Karen Weixel Dixon There was a potent silence after the complainant had delivered his opening statement: there were eight people in the room, and…

By Robert Still and Liz Katis of STILLHR The Challenges of Mental Health Issues in the Workplace We know how high the financial cost of…

By Gill Mansfield, Commercial Mediator and Trustee of TalkingWorks In these turbulent times, with escalating tensions in world politics and when society seems increasingly polarised,… FacebookTwitterShare

By Fiona Colquhoun and Andrew Fiddy, CEDR An increasing number of people are directly or indirectly impacted by mental health issues and these can affect…

By Timmy Kurtuldum, Mediation Manager, CiC Typically, up to 30% of a manager’s time is said to be spent dealing with conflict. But for Bart’s…

Conflict can happen in any workplace. And when it happens it can be costly. Differences between individuals at work can lead to grievances, absence, reduced… FacebookTwitterShare

There’s a perfect political storm brewing for HR professionals this year in the UK as the result of the general election and ongoing BREXIT negotiations…

By Michael Butterworth, Mediated Dispute Solutions Small businesses are tying up a staggering £12.4 billion in commercial disputes each year, according to figures from The… FacebookTwitterShare

Independent Mediators Limited is a group of leading, full time commercial mediators whose independent practices are centrally managed. The company operates both in the UK… FacebookTwitterShare

By Paul Rose, FCIArb Mediation training tends to follow one of three models: facilitative, transformative or narrative. With the facilitative model, mediators are taught to…

By Rebecca Clark, Mediator, In Place of Strife LLP As the former Head of Litigation of two erstwhile banks, I attended numerous mediations as the… FacebookTwitterShare

By John Sturrock, Founder and Senior Mediator, Core Solutions Group “It was the simplicity of taking a step back and being ok with saying we… FacebookTwitterShare

By Ryan Compton, Director, Centre for Resolution Mediation of disability disputes is an increasingly common way of achieving swift consensus while avoiding lengthy and costly… FacebookTwitterShare

On 4th November 2016 Nottingham Trent University Law School (NLS) launched their new Centre for Mediation & Dispute Resolution.

Businesses are increasingly discovering the advantages of using mediation in the workplace to resolve all kinds of issues that arise between employees.