Johns Hopkins Launches Workplace Mediation Program

It’s a great testament to the ongoing efforts of bringing ADR to the public when one of the country’s top universities starts its own workplace mediation program. Johns Hopkins University in Maryland has started a voluntary mediation process for staff to resolve workplace conflicts. The mediation program aims to bring people together with trained mediators in an informal setting to enhance communication and understanding.

Examples of conflicts are communication problems with a supervisor or co-worker, a disagreement of how things should be done or frustration that your input is being ignored.

The program’s mediators—trained university staff volunteers—help identify the issues for resolution, generate alternatives for resolution, pinpoint areas of agreement and, if the participants desire, help create a written contract of their proposed resolution. The sessions are held in a private and neutral setting.