Workplace mediation.
If you’ve found yourself navigating workplace challenges, you’re not alone. Relationships are at the heart of every successful team, and sometimes, even the best teams need a little help to realign and move forward together.
Workplace mediation is about creating a safe, neutral space where everyone feels heard and valued. It’s not about assigning blame or “winning” a conflict—it’s about fostering understanding, rebuilding trust, and finding solutions that work for everyone involved.
The cost of unresolved workplace conflict is substantial, to both employees and the business. In addition to the often high psychological distress suffered by employees in conflict, the cost to businesses in the form of absenteeism and reduced engagement is significant.
Mediation is not just about finding practical solutions; it’s about addressing and improving the working relationship between individuals.
My approach.
As an experienced mediator and relationship coach, I provide a space for people to safely and openly discuss the issues that are important to them.
I work with:
Employee-to-employee disputes.
Manager-employee disputes.
Conflicts between business partners.
Communication and collaboration breakdowns at a team level.
Address conflict proactively and with a person-centered approach, focusing on the employee experience and providing the environment and support to empower them to find a solution.
The process.
What does Mediation involve?
HR or Manager intake to understand the context of the conflict.
Individual Intake Sessions. Private, 1-on-1 sessions with each individual to outline what is involved in the mediation process, assist participants to identity the relevant issues for them and coach them on how to participate and prepare for the mediation.
Mediation Session. Facilitating a joint mediation session between the participants to broaden each other’s understanding of the issues through focused, collaborative dialogue.
Agreement. Establishing a clear, participant led agreement for moving forward with the working relationship.
Follow up support. If required, further joint mediation sessions may be scheduled to support participants in managing their relationship.
Why choose mediation to resolve workplace conflict?
Restore communication and trust by providing a structured format for open and respectful dialogue between team members.
De-escalate conflict and tension by identifying the root causes of disputes and providing a safe space to explore these.
Informal, private and less stressful for participants than many other processes available to resolve conflict.
Cost-effective solution to address conflict in a way that aims to preserve and enhance the working relationship and avoid expensive grievance processes or extended conflicts.
Can help identify broader structural issues feeding into the conflict.
About your mediator.
Nicole is a Relationship Coach and Nationally Accredited Mediator with over 10 years in the world of consulting, relationship building, coaching, counselling and mediation.
Nicole has mediated disputes across a range of industries and organisational sizes, from large, international resources firms to start-ups. She has extensive experience working with government agencies and in the health sector.
She has also spent time working in-house in large consulting organisations, universities and small enterprise and as such, is highly competent working with a wide range of working styles and people.
Nicole has a casual style and warmth about her that makes working with her a safe and supported experience.
Book a complimentary 15-minute call to discuss your specific situation and learn more about how I can assist.
Or email me to enquire at nicole@nicolekoelewijncoach.com.
FAQs
Are mediations online or in-person?
Depending on your preference, the sessions can be held either online or at your workplace if it is located in the Perth Metropolitan area.
How long does the mediation process take?
For mediations involving two people, the whole process can take place over one to two days.
HR or Manager Intake Sessions are 30 minutes.
Individual intake sessions with participants are 60 minutes.
A joint mediation session for two participants typically takes 3 hours.
As HR or the manager involved in organising the mediation, what information will I receive following mediation?
The mediation process itself is confidential, meaning the details of what participants say will not be disclosed to encourage uninhibited communication. HR or the manager involved will receive a summary of how the process went and be alerted to general themes as well as receive the Mediation Agreement reached by the participants should one be reached.
What if one party refuses to participate?
Mediation is a voluntary process therefore both parties need to be willing to participate for the mediation to go ahead. If it is disclosed in an individual intake session that one person does not wish to go ahead to the joint mediation, the mediation will not proceed.
What are the costs involved?
HR or Manager Intake Sessions
$200 per session. This price excludes GST.
Individual Intake Sessions
$350 per person for each intake session. This price excludes GST.
Joint Mediation Session
$200 per person per hour. This price excludes GST.
An additional one-off administration fee of $50 per participant involved covers correspondence in organising the mediation.