Employee Relations: Conflict Resolution

The University encourages communication between supervisors and employees to promptly resolve workplace complaints. Employee Relations provides a host of services regarding conflict resolution that help the campus community reduce and better manage difficult workplace situations, problems, and conflicts.

Facilitation

Upon request from an employee or supervisor, departmental Employee Relations representatives are available to facilitate meetings, when appropriate, between an employee and supervisor. Such meetings often help clarify work expectations and/or improve positive communications between employee and supervisor.

Mediation

Mediation is a problem solving process that facilitates communication between parties in conflict to promote reconciliation, settlement, or understanding regarding issues or concerns. This voluntary and confidential process enables the parties to work through issues of importance that are causing conflict, and to develop mutually acceptable solutions. A mediation session provides a neutral forum to discuss and clarify issues, express feelings, discuss interests, identify possible solutions, and reach an agreement on how to resolve the conflict. Mediation helps parties in conflict find ways to work together more comfortably and effectively.

At The University of Texas at Austin volunteer trained mediators help parties identify key issues and underlying interests, and encourage them to first explore and later evaluate options. In mediation, the parties retain decision-making authority and the responsibility for reaching resolution rests with the parties and not with the mediators. Mediators are not judges, subject matter experts, or arbitrators. They manage the process through which parties resolve their conflict.

Mediation is provided to the campus as a service at no cost to the parties. If you have questions or would like more information regarding mediation, please contact the Dispute Resolution Officer at 512-471-6638.

Training

Employee Relations offers a variety of short courses and workshops to assist in addressing and resolving conflict in the workplace. The curriculum is designed to address both the acquisition and practical application of concepts and skills. Being prepared to address conflict in the early stages, when the most choices are mutually available, is a great reason to attend the variety of short courses and workshops that are offered on the subject.

I. Concept classes are designed to provide foundation concepts, skills, and techniques that enable employees and supervisors to address and resolve conflict within challenging situations in the workplace:

Addressing Conflict in the Workplace
Building Conflict Resolution Skills

II. Situational workshops are designed to provide opportunities for supervisors to apply the conflict resolution concepts, skills and techniques taught in the introductory classes to specific situations in which conflict is commonly encountered in the workplace:

Promoting Effective Working Relationships

Performance Evaluations
Corrective Action

Reducing Conflict When Change Hits your Organization

Participating in the various short courses and workshops provides practical insight and opportunities to develop critical skills for constructive conflict management. Viewing conflict as a chance for growth and an opportunity to learn helps participants realize that many choices are available when addressing conflict. Along with the above classes offered through the HRS Training Calendar, custom classes and workshops are also offered to meet the needs of individual departments or units. For more information, please contact the Dispute Resolution Officer at 512-471-6638.

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