THE USE OF PRIVATE MEDIATION IN ORGANISATIONAL DISPUTES AND PERSONAL GRIEVANCES- THE EXPERIENCES OF WAIKATO MEDIATION SERVICES

Waikato Mediation Services was formed in 1994. It provides mediation services in number of areas. The vast majority of cases mediated by this organisation have involved private employment mediations. This has meant that the organisation mediates conflicts between management and staff and between managers for a wide range of businesses and organisations. Although each dispute is unique clear patterns have emerged from the large number of cases dealt with so far. This paper examines the factors that have influenced the occurrence of the conflicts and discusses the patterns that have begun to emerge. The conclusion reached is that certain forms of business structure and management practices increase the likelihood of disputes within the workplace. The paper concludes that in order to address workplace disputes it is essential that the context within which the dispute arose be carefully considered before any action is taken by employers. Waikato Mediation Services provides private mediation services throughout the Waikato region for a large number of businesses, social service agencies and 'not-for-profit' organisations. 1 The vast majority of the cases referred to mediation by these groups involve conflicts between man-agement and staff or between specific staff within th