News Categories:
ADA, Employment, Labor, System Design, Workplace
5/20: Firefighter wins arbitration with 'everybody does it' excuse read 5/20: Air Canada-pilots dispute goes to arbitration read 5/17: Southwest Airlines And Its Dispatchers End Mediation And Announce Tentative Agreement read 5/16: Arbitrator's ruling forces shakeup at Bay City Fire Department read 5/12: Washington Police Union Will Start Mediation Monday read 5/11: Personnel Today: Why mediation matters read 5/09: Raley's, unionized employees agree to enter mediation read 4/23: Mediation of Employment Disputes in Russia read 4/23: Indiana: Judge denies restraining order, directs mediation read 4/20: Late-night mediation fails to resolve dispute over BC report cards read read all
ODR Gaining Traction (5/21/12) Colin Rule Courtroom showdowns make for great movie scenes, but To Kill a Mockingbird’s Atticus Finch would be shocked to hear that the courts are only resolving a fraction of today’s legal disputes. A growing number of cases are being resolved by online tools, and sometimes lawyers and judges are not even involved. Impartial web-based systems apply computation, algorithms and cryptographic technology to bring about resolution quickly and inexpensively.
Poor Behavior 12: Lack of Openness or Honesty (5/21/12) Vivian Scott When people don’t know what’s happening they often get a movie going in their head that helps them explain the situation. The film versions they conjure up are rarely romantic comedies; rather, most resemble horror movies with terrible endings. A lack of honesty or openness at work can put everyone’s mental movie-making skills to the test.
Poor Behavior 11: Unrealistic Expectations (5/14/12) Vivian Scott Impracticable approaches to projects and tasks have certainly been the topic of many a gripe session between employees. The conversation often begins with one of them busting out with, “He’s never even done this job before,” and the other person responding with, “Really! What does he know?!”
Isle of Man Promoting Workplace Mediation (4/24/12) Keith Seat
The Department of Health and the Department of Social Care of the Isle of Man have launched an internal mediation service called Mediators for Health to help resolve workplace disputes. Fifteen staff members from the two departments have received mediation training and an awareness campaign is accompanying the launch of the mediation program.
Poor Behavior 10: Being Uncomfortable with Change (4/23/12) Vivian Scott Change almost always brings fear. When a shift from the normal is announced, many employees can become hyper anxious as they wonder what creepy crawly things await them. Others rage. And, then there are those who hide from any change by sticking their head so deep in the sand they begin to suffocate. Most employees do a little of each of these actions that are examples of the tenth of a dozen behaviors that cause conflict in the workplace.
Poor Behavior 9: Rescuing (4/02/12) Vivian Scott Do you work with someone whose shortcomings tug at your heart strings? Taking on the role of caregiver every now and then isn’t a bad thing; like helping a new employee find his way or mentoring someone who has an interest in learning from you. Nor is it wrong to help someone become more efficient or stretch their skills; no matter your position in the org chart.
Poor Behavior 7: Rushing in to Fix Things (3/19/12) Vivian Scott Rushing in with a super-hero cape and special powers to fix whatever is ailing a project could result in the wrong problem being fixed while the real issue is tied to the railroad tracks with a steam engine barreling in its direction.
When Conflict In The Workplace Escalates To Emotional Abuse (3/05/12) Noa Zanolli Millions of men and women of all ages, ethnic, and racial backgrounds all
across the U.S. hate going to work, gradually fall into despair and often
become gravely ill. Some flee from jobs they used to love, others endure
the situation unable to figure a way out. 92 Comments
Poor Behavior 6: Giving Vague Instructions (3/05/12) Vivian Scott We’re halfway through our list of a Dozen Dirty Behaviors that cause problems at work with #6; giving vauge instructions. What do you think your boss means when she gives you an assignment and then adds, “When you get to it” as part of the instructions?
Poor Behavior 5: Being Dismissive (2/28/12) Vivian Scott Don’t you find it frustrating when you have an idea that you’re dying to share and after getting out only a few words someone cuts you off or moves on to the next person? Yeah, me too; and that’s just one example of dismissive behavior in the workplace.
Poor Behavior 4: Over-Reacting (2/13/12) Vivian Scott Continuing the Dirty Dozen list of 12 behaviors that cause conflict at work and then are attributed to the catchall phrase, “personality clashes”, let’s yell #4 from the rooftops!
Poor Behavior 3: Pitting People Against Each Other (2/06/12) Vivian Scott Continuing the Dirty Dozen list of 12 behaviors that cause conflict at work and then are attributed to the catchall phrase, “personality clashes”, I’m adding:
#3 Pitting People Against Each Other
We Stumble...But Love Never Fails (1/23/12) William Scott Harralson, J.D. At the age of 28, I began volunteering as a shop steward with the Office and Professional Workers Union (AFL-CIO). Countless hours were spent listening to the concerns of aggravated employees and their equally frustrated supervisors. The common thread running through our discussions involved disciplinary action initiated by the employer. The other recurring issue was unfavorable employee performance evaluations. It was my job to navigate between both sides in hopes of negotiating a settlement before things escalated to the point that a worker elected to file a grievance or charge. 6 Comments
Negotiation tips for work, home and the marketplace (1/23/12) Tammy Lenski Last fall, my 13 graduate negotiation students, few of whom described themselves as good negotiators when class started, mostly shuddered at the prospect of one assignment in particular: Each week, they had to negotiate something. A matter at home. A better price on a purchase at the mall.
Personality Clashes: A Dozen Dirty Behaviors (1/16/12) Vivian Scott A smart guy and I are creating a webinar series for employees on the topic of conflict resolution. In the one section we decided to break down what it means to have a “personality clash” with a coworker.
EEOC Increases Monetary Recoveries in Mediation to $170 Million (1/10/12) Keith Seat
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reports that in fiscal 2011 it again set a record for the amount of monetary relief obtained for victims of discrimination, at $365 million, of which over $170 million was obtained in mediations. About 100,000 discrimination charges were filed with the EEOC, but the agency reduced its backlog so that fewer than 80,000 matters were pending late in the year.
Happy New Year! Resolve to Resolve (1/02/12) Vivian Scott Happy New Year! Yes, it’s that time of year when we collectively pledge to get thinner, richer, and more organized. How about this year we forego some of the usual resolutions and instead focus on resolving some of those lingering issues we have with others? If you’re ready to address the ice between you and another person, here are a few ideas from previous blogs to get you started.
Laura Kaster on Impasse: It's the Value, Stupid! (12/27/11)
The second post on Molly Klapper’s book, Definitive Creative Impasse-Breaking Techniques in Mediation, focuses on a deceptively simple and profoundly wise short essay by Laura Kaster, Addressing Impasse by Helping the Parties Value the Case. She opens her piece with a “much overlooked but obvious” point: “Settling or mediating a case is, among other things, a process for agreeing to the value of the claim. … Impasse often occurs precisely because the parties do not agree on the value of the case.”
Why Sucking Up at Work Isn’t a Bad Thing (12/05/11) Vivian Scott Brownnoser, suck up, and backslapper are just a few of the monikers folks at work get when they have the boss mesmerized and delivering whatever they want. Coworkers may like to point out a yes-man’s flaws and make a lot of noise about his behavior, but that doesn’t stop a teacher’s pet from receiving special attention and perks.
Dismantling Systems of Bullying (11/28/11) Peter T. Coleman Bullying is a public health problem that affects 20% to 30% of students on a daily basis and is associated with depression, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and a decreased sense of empathy for others. It is also a common problem in other adult workplaces.
When a Bully Refuses to Dance! (11/28/11) Phyllis Pollack Recently, I posted blogs on the necessity of “dancing” and on “difficult people”. This past week, both topics collided in a mediation! What an experience!
Negotiating with the Most Difficult People (10/31/11) Nancy Hudgins I’m a fan of Bill Eddy’s. Bill is a clinical social worker who became a lawyer and then a mediator. He has made a study of working with high conflict personalities. He founded the High Conflict Institute, which is also on Facebook, here.
