Workplace Dispute Resolution and the Management of Individual Conflict —A Thematic Analysis of Five Case Studies

This Acas funded report explores the management of individual conflict and the resolution of employment disputes in five organisations drawing on over one hundred hours of interview data gathered from discussions with HR practitioners, line and operational managers, employee representatives, and trained mediators. In light of increased concern over the impact of employment disputes on public expenditure, economic performance and employee well-being, substantial policy attention has been paid to the ways in which organisations respond to workplace conflict. In particular, there has been an increased focus on the potential for earlier intervention in order to resolve conflict through the use of alternative approaches such as mediation. Surprisingly, there has been relatively little contemporary academic research into these important issues. Therefore, this thematic review aims to provide new insights into the challenges faced by organisations in managing conflict

Reframing Resolution - Managing Conflict and Resolving Individual Employment Disputes in the Contemporary Workplace

The resolution of individual workplace conflict has assumed an increasingly important place in policy debates over contemporary work and employment. This is in part due to the decline in collective industrial action and the parallel rise in the volume of employment tribunal applications. It reflects a growing concern over the implications of individual employment disputes for those involved but has perhaps been driven by concerns over the cost of litigation and the perceived burden that this places on employers. Against this backdrop, an ESRC-funded seminar series, entitled ‘Reframing Resolution – Managing Conflict and Resolving Individual Employment Disputes in the Contemporary Workplace’, was held between October 2012 and September 2013. This comprised six seminars held at: University of Strathclyde; University of Central Lancashire; Swansea University; Queen’s University Belfast; IRRU, University of Warwick and University of Westminster. The series brought leading academic researchers, practitioners and policy-makers together to explore new empirical and conceptual developments, examine innovative practice and provide insights into key questions of public policy

Reframing resolution: Innovation and change in the mangement of workplace conflict

Reframing Resolution provides an original, accessible and critical point of reference for students, practitioners and scholars interested in the management of workplace conflict. Drawing on contemporary empirical evidence from the UK, USA, Ireland and Australia, the book explores the front-line challenges facing organizations and individuals in addressing and responding to conflict. In particular, it examines the extent to which conflict management is treated as a strategic issue and discusses the development of mediation and its impact on employment relations culture, the experiences of participants in mediation and the relationship between ADR and workplace justice. Crucially, the book also assesses key innovations in the management of workplace conflict, and discusses the future potential of more integrated and systemic approaches

Mediation and early resolution in East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

A case study of one acute NHS Trust's attempts to build on its existing internal workplace mediation service to develop a more systemic approach to early conflict resolution