Consider these alarming trends from recent studies and surveys about unresolved workplace conflict:

• 62% of employees surveyed claimed they were more willing to sue their employer over employment discrimination than five years earlier.
• The 1991 Civil Rights Act opened the door to punitive damages and to the right to jury trials in employment discrimination lawsuits. Punitive damages can outstrip compensatory damages 10 to one.
• U.S. companies spend a staggering $20 BILLION a year on litigation!!

Productivity suffers from unresolved conflicts - studies have shown managers spend between 30% and 40% of their time dealing with unresolved employee conflicts. So basically, 30% to 40% of a manager's salary is devoted to conflict management.

Monetary losses are escalating:

• In the last six years, monetary benefits paid in EEOC sexual harassment cases vaulted from $7.1 million to $49.5 million.
• The average jury verdict for wrongful termination cases can amount to more than $600,000.

Reversing the trend:

• More than 60% of Fortune 500 corporations have pledged to use non-litigious dispute resolution process, primarily mediation.
• Agencies report that discrimination complaints resolved using mediation in the early stages of the conflict reduce the number of formal complaints and the time spent on drawn out complaint handling procedures.
• Cornell University found in a study that 88% of the largest 1,000 U.S. companies used mediation to resolve employee workplace conflicts.

As outside neutral impartial facilitator's of the mediation process, The Cashman Mediation Group returns control to management and to employees in resolving workplace conflicts.

• Cost Control: Avoid litigation expense.
• Time Control: Avoid time consuming grievances and complaint handling procedures as well as months of imposed court schedules, appearances, depositions and discovery.
• Process Control: The involved parties dictate how long the process will last and its level of confidentiality. Mediation sessions are scheduled at the convenience of the parties not the court.
• Outcome Control: Nothing is imposed; resolution is achieved only when both parties agree. The process is flexible.

The benefits of mediation include:

• Stops conflict from eating up productivity.
• Gets employees back to working cooperatively.
• Reduces or eliminates anger between employees.
• Keeps conflicts from recurring.
• Employee morale improves.
• Management is aided in identifying and addressing workplace conflict.
• Save time and money thereby increasing profit!

The first step: Call The Cashman Mediation Group for further details about how mediation can improve your bottom line.

MEDIATION AND LITIGATION

How do mediation and Litigation differ? Litigation is by nature is a win/lose process conducted by two adversarial attorneys and a judge within the confines of a public courtroom. This adversarial process bestows heightened stress and emotional trauma on an already stressed out and emotionally bankrupt couple. Each attorney is an advocate who "fights" for their client. Sadly and all too often, Husband and Wife end up enemies and the thought of an "amicable" divorce becomes a distant illusion.

Mediation is by nature a collaborative problem-solving process facilitated by a neutral third party mediator. The mediation process is conducted away from the public-view courtroom in a private confidential atmosphere of the mediator’s office and conference room. Issues are identified in all relevant focus areas and a problem-solving agenda is created for subsequent mediation sessions. One by one issues are discussed and points of view and perceptions are shared between husband and wife and the mediator. The mediator acts as a conduit between husband and wife for clear communication. Through this dialogue and after each party understands their rights, choices, and alternatives, decisions and agreement can be achieved. An "amicable" divorce becomes reality.

DIVORCE AND MEDIATION

Divorce can be difficult for everyone involved. While there is no way to avoid pain and distress, it is important to minimize the impact of that event on the family, especially the children. Mediation is a humane and compassionate process that assists separating, divorcing, or divorced spouses in making their own parenting and financial decisions that impact their future. The neutral and impartial mediator does not represent either side in the dissolution process and acts to facilitate issue identification and problem solving. Furthermore, the mediator educates both parties about their rights, choices and alternatives before crucial decisions are finalized. The process is private, confidential, and allows the divorcing couple to maintain their dignity through this stressful event.

BENEFITS OF MEDIATION

WIN/WIN Results: Your settlement agreement addresses the needs and interests of both spouses and children.

Self-Determination: You and your spouse, rather than the court, decide what is best for your family.

Economical: Mediation costs substantially less than the two adversarial attorney divorce model.

Confidential: The mediation takes place in the privacy and comfort of the mediators office and conference room, not in a public courtroom. All matters discussed stay private and out of view from the public.

Cooperative: Parties work together in joint problem-solving sessions facilitated by the mediator, and mutually beneficial financial and parental solutions are achieved.

Effective: Research studies show that spouses are more likely to follow through with a mediated solution than with a court imposed solution.

WHY MEDIATE?

Mediation allows you to keep control over not only the costs associated with the dissolution process, but the outcome as well. Even though mediation costs substantially less than the two adversarial attorneys divorce model, the end result settlement agreement has the same legality and enforceability. It is a short-term process rather than a long-term intervention by the judicial system. Often, mediation can maximize good will between the parties making communication possible after disputes are resolved.