Jayne Stringer MA Chartered MCIPD
Workplace Mediator and HR Consultant
Workplace conflict
is very costly to organisations
Workplace mediation resolves workplace conflict
An experienced and very skilled workplace mediator, Jayne has successfully completed numerous mediations with very positive results, in both individual and group mediation. Jayne is passionate about the benefits of workplace mediation, and its ability to transform conflict into productive and positive relationships.
Jayne has mediated in many sectors, including utilities, charity and non for profit, higher education, energy, blue chip, financial, pharmaceutical, transport, retail, healthcare, consultancy and investment.
Jayne has designed mediation training and set up internal workplace mediation programmes to great effect. Through mediation, workplace conflict can be resolved in a productive manner that is supportive and sensitive for the participants, whilst being cost effective and time efficient for the organisation.
What does the research say about workplace mediation?
In the joint publication between ACAS and the CIPD in February 2013: “Mediation: An Approach to Resolving Workplace Issues”, the organisational costs of workplace conflict were found to be as follows:
- The risk of time-consuming formal processes (grievances, employment tribunal claims)
- Sickness absence costs, as the individuals concerned take time off to deal personally with the effects of the conflict
- Management time being diverted to managing the conflict instead of focusing on managing the business
- Staff turnover and re-recruitment and re-training costs, where conflict leads to the departure of those affected from the organisation
- Low staff morale, leading to less commitment to exerting discretionary effort, leading to lower productivity
- Poor working relationships within the teams affected
- Loss of focus on corporate goals and common objectives as people are distracted by the disagreement
- The potential for a ‘blame culture’ to develop, rather than one focused on innovation
- The employer’s external reputation could be compromised
The 2008 CIPD Survey on workplace mediation showed that three-quarters of respondents considered mediation to be one of the most effective approaches to resolving conflict in the workplace, with most frequently mentioned benefits found to be
- Improving working relationships between employees
- Reducing or eliminating the stress involved in using more formal processes
- Retaining valuable employees
- Reducing the number of formal grievances being raised