Rise in Dispute Resolution Transforms Conflict at Work

Businesses and Government Come Together at a Major London
Conference to Promote Dispute Resolution & Workplace Mediation

Summary
London based Symposium Events (www.symposium-events.co.uk) has today announced the ìThe Future of Dispute Resolutionî conference. The conference will be one-day event on Tuesday, 24th January 2006, at the Business Design Centre Islington London.

This unique and ground-breaking conference ñ the first of its kind ñ will give HR and other professionals a thorough overview of the key strategic, financial and practical issues at the centre of the dispute resolution revolution.

This important and timely one-day national conference will enable employers to fully understand the wide-reaching implications and benefits of dispute resolution. HR professionals will learn from experts in government and industry and will receive practical help and advice on a variety of related issues.

Background
The Dispute Resolution Regulations, effective since October 2004, were intended to radically reduce the instances of litigation and referral to Employment Tribunals. Managing conflict at work and preparing for tribunals, costs the average employer nearly 450 days of management time every year1. Yet research shows that where mediation is used, 65% of cases are settled before going to court.2 Now, over a year since the introduction of the Dispute Resolution Regulations, experts ask ìwhat has been their impact and what are the future trends in this important new area of HR managementî?

This is just one of the key issues being examined at this ground-braking new Dispute Resolution conference being organised by Symposium Events on 24th January 2006.

Dispute resolution is regarded by many as one of the biggest new issues to hit HR in over a decade. The Government has shown particular interest in this area and is encouraging the growth of dispute resolution and workplace mediation within UK employers. The recent, Mediation Week, sponsored by both the Department for
Constitutional Affairs and Her Majestyís Court Service, is testament to the Governmentís growing commitment.

Speaking during Mediation Week, Baroness Ashton of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, said: ìToo often taking cases through court can be a disruptive, time-consuming and stressful process Ö Mediation provides a less hostile and intimidating environment in which to resolve disputes and can help those involved to
understand the issues and find solutions that everyone agrees on.î3

This unique and ground-breaking conference, aimed at employers, HR professionals and employment lawyers and the first of its kind in the UK ñ will give participants a thorough overview of the key strategic, financial and practical issues at the centre of the dispute resolution revolution.

Sarah Veale, Head of Equality & Rights at the TUC, speaking in advance of the conference said that: The TUC supports the concept of mediation and welcomes this conference. Union officials and representatives spend a significant part of their time trying to resolve disputes that arise in the workplace. Involving a union in mediation will ensure that employees feel that the process will be fair to them.

Another of the experts speaking at the conference, Ben Willmott, Employee Relations Advisor at the CIPD, has said: ìIf line managers are trained in conflict management and mediation skills, they are more comfortable intervening when a problem arises and can prevent it escalating.4

David Liddle, Founder and Director of Total Conflict Management commented recently: ìIn my ten years as a specialist workplace mediator, I have witnessed first hand the negative impact of workplace conflict. With nowhere to turn, employers and employees tear their hair out (and sometimes each others!) when they are faced with a fall-out at work. Unresolved workplace conflicts are extremely damaging and are an unspoken reality for many organisations. In response, mediation is proving to be one of the most effective tools for resolving long standing and often highly charged workplace disputes. As a mediator, I listen to all sides before bringing disputing parties together to help them as they reach a mutually acceptable outcomeî.

Issues covered at this at the Dispute Resolution conference will include:

Dispute resolution ñ An overview of best practice
An employees perspective of mediation
Government policy on workplace dispute resolution
The business case for mediation
The impact of early resolution in the workplace
The future of dispute resolution ñ Panel debate and Q&A with delegates

Conference speakers include:

Ben Willmott, CIPD
Rita Donaghy CBE, Acas
Sarah Veale, TUC
Baroness Ashton, Department for Constitutional Affairs (tbc)
David Liddle MBA, Founder of Total Conflict Management Ltd.
Matthew Howse, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert
Linda Hoskinson, People Resolutions Group Ltd
Wendy Tull and Colin Moulds, Case Studies from British Transport Police and Vodafone UK Ltd respectively