Workplace Mediation Services.
Conflict between colleagues, managers or teams can affect communication, wellbeing and the wider working environment. When relationships begin to break down, an independent mediator can help those involved address the issues and agree a practical way forward.
Through Equitas Resolve, we provide confidential workplace mediation services for employers, HR teams and employees across the UK.
Our accredited mediators create a structured, impartial environment where participants can speak openly, understand each other’s concerns and work towards an agreement they can all support.
Helping People Find a Way Forward at Work
Independent Workplace Conflict Mediation.
Workplace mediation is a voluntary process in which an independent mediator helps employees, managers or teams discuss a disagreement and explore how they can work together more effectively.
The mediator does not take sides, investigate allegations or decide who was right or wrong. Their role is to manage the conversation fairly, help participants understand the issues affecting the relationship and support them in developing their own solutions.
This makes mediation particularly useful where communication has broken down, informal attempts at resolution have stalled or an ongoing conflict is beginning to affect other people.
Equitas Resolve provides a neutral space for difficult conversations, helping participants move beyond entrenched positions and focus on practical changes that can improve the working relationship.
Make an Enquiry & Speak With a Workplace Mediator
If you’re an employer, HR professional, manager or employee seeking help with workplace conflict, contact Equitas Resolve to discuss the situation in confidence. We’ll explain how workplace mediation works and whether it may be appropriate.
- Workplace Issues We Can Help Mediate:
- Personality Clashes and Relationship Breakdowns
- Conflict between colleagues whose personalities, expectations or ways of working have led to an ongoing breakdown in the relationship.
- Communication Problems
- Misunderstandings, repeated disagreements or communication styles that have created tension and made cooperation difficult.
- Leadership and Management Tensions
- Difficulties between managers and employees, between members of a leadership team or involving different expectations around management and support.
- Unclear Roles and Responsibilities
- Disagreements caused by overlapping responsibilities, unclear boundaries, competing priorities or uncertainty about who should make decisions.
- Team Conflict and Dysfunction
- Conflict affecting several members of a team, including divisions, loss of trust, resistance to change or difficulties following organisational restructuring.
- Post-Investigation and Post-Grievance Repair
- Support for employees and teams following a formal process, helping to clarify expectations, repair working relationships and reduce the likelihood of the same conflict recurring.
How Our Workplace Mediation Process Works.
Confidential, Voluntary and Impartial.
We begin by speaking with the organisation or person making the referral to understand the nature of the conflict and establish whether workplace mediation is likely to be appropriate.
Before the joint mediation, the mediator usually meets each participant separately. These confidential pre-mediation conversations allow everyone to explain their perspective, raise concerns and understand how the process will work.
During the joint session, the mediator helps participants discuss the issues constructively. The conversation may explore what has happened, how the working relationship has been affected and what each person needs for it to improve.
The participants remain in control of the outcome. If they reach an agreement, this may include practical commitments around communication, behaviour, responsibilities, boundaries or future reviews. Information is only shared with HR, management or other parties where this has been agreed.
Where appropriate, Equitas Resolve can also provide follow-up support to help participants maintain the progress made during mediation.
- We Support Workplaces Across the UK, Including:
- Corporate organisations and SMEs
- Charities and mission-driven organisations
- HR teams, managers and governance professionals
- Employees, colleagues and leadership teams
Who Is Workplace Mediation For?
Workplace mediation can help where the people involved need to continue working together but communication, trust or cooperation has broken down.
It can be arranged by an employer, HR team or manager, or requested by an employee seeking a constructive way to address an ongoing disagreement. Mediation can involve two colleagues, a manager and employee, members of a leadership team or a wider group experiencing team conflict.
Mediation works best when everyone involved is willing to participate and has the authority to agree practical changes. Where serious allegations still need to be examined or formal findings are required, an independent workplace investigation may be more appropriate before mediation is considered.
Why Choose Equitas Resolve?
Accredited, Experienced Mediators
Our accredited mediators understand the personal, professional and organisational pressures that can make workplace conflict difficult to resolve internally.
Independent, Informed and Impartial
The mediator has no connection to the dispute and does not represent the employer or employee. Every participant is treated fairly and given an opportunity to be heard.
Fully Confidential and Voluntary
Participants choose whether to take part and remain in control of any agreement. Information is only shared outside the process where this has been agreed or disclosure is otherwise required.
Practical Workplace Agreements
We help participants develop realistic commitments around communication, behaviour, responsibilities and future ways of working.
Equitas Resolve provides workplace mediation in person, remotely or through a hybrid approach, supporting organisations and employees across the UK.
Workplace Mediation FAQs
What is workplace mediation?
Workplace mediation is a voluntary and confidential process in which an independent mediator helps employees, managers or teams address conflict at work. The mediator facilitates a fair and constructive conversation but does not take sides or impose a solution. The participants decide whether an agreement can be reached and what practical changes it should contain.
What workplace issues can mediation help resolve?
Workplace mediation can help with personality clashes, communication breakdowns, damaged working relationships, leadership tensions, unclear responsibilities, different working styles and conflict within teams. It can also support employees following a grievance or workplace investigation where the formal process has concluded and the people involved need help rebuilding a workable professional relationship.
What is the difference between workplace mediation and a workplace investigation?
A workplace investigation examines allegations, gathers evidence and reaches findings about what happened. Workplace mediation does not establish facts or decide who was right or wrong. It helps willing participants discuss how the conflict has affected them and agree how they will work together in the future. Where serious allegations or potential misconduct still need to be examined, an investigation may be required before mediation is considered.
Is workplace mediation confidential?
Yes. Workplace mediation is conducted confidentially so that participants can speak openly. The mediator will agree what, if anything, can be shared with HR, management or other people outside the mediation. Where an agreement is reached, participants may choose to share the agreed actions while keeping the details of their conversations private. Any legal or safeguarding exceptions will be explained before mediation begins.
Can an employee be required to take part in workplace mediation?
No. Workplace mediation is a voluntary process and everyone involved must be willing to participate. An employer or HR team may recommend mediation and explain its potential benefits, but the mediator cannot force someone to take part or accept a particular outcome. Participants may also withdraw from the process if they no longer wish to continue.
What happens during workplace mediation?
The mediator will usually speak with each participant separately before bringing them together for a joint session. During the mediation, everyone has an opportunity to explain their concerns, hear the other perspectives and explore practical changes. If an agreement is reached, it may set out commitments concerning communication, behaviour, responsibilities, boundaries or future review meetings.
How long does workplace mediation take and what does it cost?
The time required depends on the number of participants, the complexity of the conflict and the preparation involved. Equitas Resolve offers half-day workplace mediation from £950 per case and full-day workplace mediation from £1,500 per case. This can include individual pre-mediation meetings, the joint mediation session and appropriate follow-up support. We provide a quotation based on the circumstances of each referral.
Need Help Resolving a Commercial Dispute?
Talk to Equitas Resolve about your situation in confidence. We’ll explain how commercial mediation works, whether it may be suitable and how we can support the parties in working towards resolution.