Why use mediation?
Where a disagreement or dispute exists between two (or more) people (the ‘parties’), a CCODR mediator can assist the parties to find an agreement. This is the 'mediation' process.
Our mediators stay neutral and do not advocate for either side, as such the mediator is impartial. The mediator’s role is there to help the parties find a solution that is suitable and agreeable to all the parties.
Workplace mediation can be an effective way to settle disputes that are impacting on working relationships. Mediation does not get into judging the right or wrongs of the parties in the past, but instead it will look to how to resolve the dispute and provide away for the parties to work together in the future.
Mediation is a quick way to resolve a dispute and is:
- Inexpensive
- Time effective
- Resolution shaped by the parties for the parties
- Less formal
- Flexible
- Voluntary
- Confidential
What is Online Mediation?
Online mediation has only one difference to ‘face to face’ mediation and that is it will take place over a secure ‘end to end encrypted’ video conferencing platform rather than in a hired room. This ensures everything that takes place is secure and meets our mediators’ obligations under GDPR regulations.
This gives you peace of mind that everything is being handled in an appropriate and safe manner.
Do I need tech know-how?
No! All you will need is access to a computer or device and have an internet connection. Your mediator will talk you through the process.
How could mediation help in my dispute?
Mediation could assist your workplace relationship by finding a solution that everyone has agreed to. This can then improve the communication between you and the other party in the dispute.
The mediation process allows the parties to stay in control of what’s finally agreed.
What are the benefits of mediation?
There are many benefits of mediation and some of these include:
- a quicker process, saving precious work time
- avoid paying high court or tribunal fees costs
- avoid losing valuable employees
- reduce stress of formal proceedings
- reduce additional grievances being raised
The CCODR Scheme is facilitated self-regulation. It aims to promote consumer interests by setting out the principles of effective customer service and protection. It goes above and beyond consumer law obligations and sets a higher standard, showing consumers clearly, through the right to display the CCODR approved member logo, that CODE members can be trusted.
What outcome can I expect?
Outcomes are likely to include an acknowledgement of each party’s views and a commitment to then change behaviour moving forward. To also provide a commitment, by the parties, to regularly review the agreement reached that has been reached.
Finally, to find an agreement to review policies or procedures and agree to share work fairly as well as providing a way to agree responsibility.
Mediation is both voluntary and confidential
It is worth noting that mediation is voluntary in nature. The initial meeting will provide the mediator an opportunity to talk to you about what will happen in the mediation so as to ensure that you want take your part in the mediation.
Mediation is confidential. As such the mediator will agree with both sides what information can be shared outside the mediation and how that should be done. If you do not reach an agreement, anything that’s been said during the mediation must be kept confidential and cannot be used in future procedures.
What type of disputes could mediation help with?
Mediation could assist with all manner of workplace disputes such as:
- furloughing
- pay
- issues related to dismissal or conduct
- bullying or harassment
- communication issues
- employee or management relationship breakdown
When is it best to engage?
While it is clearly a good idea to try and resolve the problem through informal means first, if the problem cannot be resolved, then it is worth seeking a mediator’s assistance. It is worth knowing though that mediation can be used at any stage in a dispute. However, it is best to engage with it as soon as possible. In fact, the earlier the dispute is dealt with, the less chance that matters will get worse.
What is the Cost?
The cost for mediation is often paid for by the employer but the cost can also be shared or indeed be paid for by the employee. At CCODR we have a fixed scale cost which is available here.
The Consumer CODEs Approval Scheme” (CCAS). The CCAS scheme aims to improve customer service standards by
- The approval and promotion of CODEs of practice through CODE sponsors, approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).
- Protecting consumers with higher levels of customer service.
- Allowing business to display the CODEs logo to reassure customers.
This allows Consumers to look out for the CTSI logo when selecting a mediator and to be confident that they have chosen an approved mediator who has a commitment to honest business and higher customer standards.
The Consumer CODEs Approval Scheme is facilitated self-regulation. It aims to promote consumer interests by setting out the principles of effective customer service and protection. It goes above and beyond consumer law obligations and sets a higher standard, showing consumers clearly, through the right to display the CTSI approved CODE logo, that CODE members can be trusted. The CCAS scheme has been widely adopted throughout the consumer arena and offers consumers a route to seek recourse where they have a grievance.
What is the Cost?
- The only UK ODR Industry specific technological platform which is partnered with a Consumer Code
- Digital badge identifying your membership
- End to End encryption (E2EE)
- Ability to upload your own branding
- Secure Online call facility
- Run an unlimited amount of cases
- No limit to the number of parties per case
- Integrated secure internal messaging
- Full suite of case management tools
- Encrypted uploading and file sharing
- Agreements and digital acceptance
- Ability to upload your own templates
- Integrated invoicing and payments
- Integrated calendar function
- Record video messages
- Record audio messages
- Multi factor authentication
- Create and store your standard request templates
- Unlimited storage
- Digital billing cycle: invoices, payments, receipts
When is it best to engage?
CCODR provide its members a world leading online dispute resolution, case management and conferencing platform with E2EE security. Our platform offers a full suite of support services allowing members to conduct real time ODR processes remotely and safely and securely. It has a full document management system and can facilitate the creation of settlement agreements between parties in real time. The system also facilitates the invoicing as part of the membership plan.
What outcome can I expect?
The CCODR has produced a voluntary Code of standards benchmarked to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute Consumer Code approval scheme. The increasing role and complexity of online dispute resolution requires the promotion of consistent standards. As ODR continues to develop as an integral part of the UK and ROI justice systems, and as an alternative to the formal Court setting, the CCCODR Code will promote best practice and higher standards for its members, lobbying on their behalf and providing a framework that will foster confidence within the ODR sector.
The CCODR Code will promote a set of standards for its members and for the first time offer consumers an opportunity to have an independent body assess and adjudicate on any complaints where it is alleged a CCODR Code member has fallen short.
What is CCODR?
CCODR have first of all designed an Online Platform for practitioners of adjudication, arbitration, mediation and negotiation sector. Secondly, it has established a set of ethics, principles and conduct to which members of CCODR must abide in its Code. We are focused on ensuring high standards of education, training, ethics in the professional practice of ODR and also on increasing public awareness of ODR. The CCODR Code promotes the International Council for Online Dispute Resolution (ICODR) standards, as well as espousing standards within the 4 sectors previously mentioned. All our members our signed up to both our Platform and our Code.
Do I need tech know-how?
The CCODR Code is designed to ensure that clients/parties to an ODR process;
- are treated fairly by the member
- are given clear and reliable information about how the process will be managed
- can rely on the member having acceptable professional qualifications
- understand what service levels to expect from the member
- have access to speedy, low-cost dispute resolution arrangements if they are dissatisfied
- are given suitable support to help assist them in making decisions if they are in a vulnerable position
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