'Conflict grows out of ignorance and suspicion.' Gordon B. Hinckley
The definition of workplace conflict that Acas uses is "discontent arising from a perceived clash of interests". That conflict can affect morale, performance, communications of individuals and teams and can have a disastrous effect on productivity. It is very damaging for the business.
Whilst civil and commercial mediations focus heavily on assisting the parties to reach an acceptable negotiated “solution” to the current problem, workplace mediation will focus much more on helping the parties to rebuild relationships. Typically the relationships will have deteriorated as a result of a number of factors. The parties now find it difficult to discuss matters without emotion and misunderstanding. A workplace mediation can give the parties and opportunity to rebuild their communications so as to resolve the problems at hand, but will give them a basis for communicating effectively in the future.