Early Dispute Resolution (edr) Statistics

(extract from Human Resources Committee paper 23 May 2011)

Internal Mediations

The edr mediation team has now carried out over 40 mediations. The trend is one of growth in its use with 3 mediations in 2007, 3 in 2008, 8 in 2009, 10 in 2010 and 12 to May 2011.

For the majority of these, resolution has been positive. There is an 85% resolution rate overall. In the main, after introductory discussions, a joint meeting has taken place between participants and facilitated by the mediators. Matters have normally been resolved within a one day period. Follow up discussions are now always offered by the mediators.

The range of issues brought to mediation has included breakdowns in working relationships, communication difficulties, changing patterns of working practices, organisational changes and difficulties in implementation, clashes of behaviour and misunderstandings in the workplace.

The majority of mediations are facilitated by 2 co-mediators and this arrangement has good feedback. Depending on circumstances and availability of mediators, there is an option of a sole mediator being offered.

Ewan Malcolm, Patron of the Scottish Mediation Network, is our external quality assurance advisor, is any problems arise with the service.

Development of edr skills for staff

In addition to the mediations, a number of "mediation type discussions" have been requested. Typically, these are as a result of an enquiry about mediation and how it works and an informal discussion about general mediative approaches that individuals can use for themselves. In reviewing the outcomes of these types of discussions, there is a surprising ongoing "mediation effect" and a high local resolution rate, as outlined below.

There have been a total of 19 discussions about the use of edr skills. As with the mediations, approaches have come from across the University. In 5 instances, these situations have not been resolved and formal procedures used for determination. In 14 instances, these have self-resolved through discussion and use by the parties themselves of mediation skills; a 73% resolution rate. The annual breakdown is as follows:

Fiona O'Donnell
University Solicitor/Legal Counsellor

May 2011