University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

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By CHARLOTTE HSU

Published: May 19, 2010

A free mediation and facilitation service that launched last month is providing UB employees with a new avenue for addressing interpersonal disputes in the workplace.

Through the Conflict Resolution/Mediation Pilot Program, which is free and open to staff and faculty, colleagues in conflict can meet with a pair of trained mediators who will facilitate conversation and encourage participants to work out problems. Similar assistance is available for larger groups, such as departments or teams within units.

Issues that confidential mediation or facilitation sessions could address include communication challenges; perceived inequalities or bullying; personality clashes; differences in working styles; racial, cultural and gender differences; and clarification of rules, policies or practices. The goal is to help people discuss situations openly and work collaboratively to resolve issues.

Mediators never impose solutions. Parties involved in a dispute decide what steps they want to take to move forward and sign an agreement by which each side can abide. The program is voluntary, and employees who are not comfortable meeting at the university can schedule off-campus appointments.

“There are many kinds of stress on people in the workplace, and it's really an attempt to give people another, non-punitive way to deal with that—another option, another alternative,” says Barbara Burke, interim director of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Affirmative Action, which developed the mediation service with the Employee Assistance Program, Employee Relations and campus unions.

“Our goal is to help employees tackle issues that don’t fall neatly into established complaint, grievance and discipline procedures. We want to be proactive, to help people work on these interpersonal and workplace issues that can interfere with the ability to get work done,” says Robinette Kelley, program coordinator and an equity and equal opportunity associate.

The program features mediators from UB and the Center for Resolution and Justice, a Buffalo-based human services agency operated by Child & Family Services.

Though services are confidential, the Center for Resolution and Justice will gather statistics for assessment purposes on topics including the number of cases resolved and the types of issues addressed in mediation sessions.

To learn more about the Conflict Resolution/Mediation Pilot Program, visit the website or contact the Office of Equity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Administration at 645-2266. Departments or offices interested in an in-person presentation on the mediation and facilitation service can call the same number.