What Is Mediation? | HR Glossary | BambooHR
A voluntary, confidential process where a neutral third party helps resolve a workplace dispute.
Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution in which a neutral, trained mediator helps two or more parties reach their own agreement to a workplace conflict. The mediator does not impose a decision; they facilitate dialogue and understanding.
It is well suited to interpersonal disputes, breakdowns in working relationships and some grievance situations, where a formal process might entrench positions. Because it is voluntary and confidential, it can preserve relationships and avoid the cost of escalation.
In Ireland, the Workplace Relations Commission offers a mediation service alongside its adjudication function, and many employers build mediation into their own dispute-resolution procedures. Early, well-facilitated mediation often resolves issues that would otherwise become formal claims.
