Managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation

£14.99

UK-specific • Editable • Instant download • 12 months' updates

Our Guide to Managing Conflict at Work through Mediation empowers teams to address workplace tensions effectively, fostering collaboration and harmony.

Managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation
2026 Reviewed
Specifications
Access 12 months (includes updates)
Length 2 pages • 587 words
Jurisdiction England, Wales and Scotland
Based on UK employment law, ACAS guidance
Last review 01/09/2026
Next review 01/03/2027
Delivery Instant download
Formats .doc · .pdf · .txt · email

Download .doc

View .pdf

Copy [to paste]

Email
Template

Managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation

Introduction

Conflict is a natural and inevitable part of any workplace. When disagreements and disputes arise between colleagues or teams, resolving them promptly and effectively is essential for maintaining a harmonious and productive work environment. Mediation is a powerful tool to address conflicts constructively, promoting open communication, understanding, and collaboration. This guide will walk you through the steps of managing conflict at work through mediation.

Step 1: Recognise the Conflict

The first step in resolving any conflict is to acknowledge its existence. Be attentive to signs of tension, misunderstandings, or hostility between employees or teams. These can include increased arguments, decreased productivity, or negative attitudes. Addressing conflicts early can prevent them from escalating into more significant issues.

Step 2: Choose a Neutral Mediator

Select a mediator who is impartial, neutral, and well-versed in conflict resolution techniques. This person should not have a direct stake in the outcome and should be trained in mediation skills. The mediator's role is to facilitate communication and guide the parties towards a mutually agreeable solution.

Step 3: Establish Ground Rules

Before beginning

PREVIEW ENDS HERE

This is the end of the preview

You've seen just 30% of how the Managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation is structured. Get the complete editable template instantly and customise it for your organisation.

£14.99

Need the complete Grievance process?

Explore the Grievance templates toolkit

What is a managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation?

Managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation preview

The purpose of Managing Conflict at Work through Mediation is to provide a structured and collaborative approach to resolving disputes in the workplace.

By employing mediation techniques, the goal is to foster open communication, mutual understanding, and productive problem-solving, creating a harmonious and productive work environment for all parties involved.

The wider HR process

Related HR resources and workflow

Explore the HR resources that may be relevant before and / or after using the Managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation, helping you understand the wider process, maintain appropriate documentation and follow a consistent approach.

Previous
Letters
Grievance letter

If an employee wishes to raise a grievance about a workplace issue, they can submit this model letter template to you.

This
Managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation
Next
Letters
Mediation meeting invitation letter

Our Mediation Meeting Invitation Letter Template facilitates conflict resolution by inviting parties to engage in a structured dialogue process.

Premium content

To continue reading, purchase this item or a parent toolkit, library or our full library.

Implementation guidance

Use these best practice actions, recommended timescales and process stages to understand when and how the Managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation should be used, helping ensure each step is handled consistently and appropriately documented.

Step Description Responsibility Timing
1 Identify conflict situation Supervisor/HR As soon as conflict is recognized
2 Assess the situation and decide if mediation is appropriate HR/Management Within a few days of identification
3 Share the Guide to Managing Conflict at Work through Mediation HR Prior to mediation process
4 Conduct mediation session Mediator Schedule mediation session
5 [Optional] Follow-up and monitor the resolution HR/Management After mediation is completed
Premium content

To continue reading, purchase this item or a parent toolkit, library or our full library.

HR considerations

UK employment law and best practice

This template is designed to support the process, but the document should be used alongside the relevant HR procedure and applied to the circumstances of the individual case.

  • Employment Rights Act 1996: This law covers various aspects of employment, including the right to a fair disciplinary and grievance procedure. Mediation can be used as a fair and impartial way to resolve workplace conflicts in accordance with these rights.

  • Equality Act 2010: This legislation prohibits discrimination, harassment, and victimization in the workplace based on protected characteristics such as age, race, gender, disability, and others. Mediation can be utilized to address conflicts related to discrimination and harassment in a sensitive and confidential manner.

  • ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures: The Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service (ACAS) provides guidelines on fair procedures for handling disciplinary and grievance issues at work. Mediation is recommended as an alternative method to resolve conflicts informally and quickly.

  • ACAS Code of Practice on Mediation in the Workplace: This code outlines best practices for conducting workplace mediation. Following this code can help ensure that mediation processes are conducted fairly, confidentially, and with the voluntary consent of all parties involved.

  • Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992: This law governs trade union activities and recognizes the importance of resolving disputes through negotiation, mediation, and other peaceful means.

  • Protection from Harassment Act 1997: This legislation protects individuals from harassment in various settings, including the workplace. Mediation can be a constructive way to address and resolve harassment complaints.

  • Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: Employers have a duty to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their employees. Mediation can help address conflicts related to workplace safety and create a safer working environment.

  • The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003: This law protects employees from discrimination based on their religion or belief. Mediation can be used to address disputes related to religious or belief-based discrimination.

  • The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003: This legislation protects individuals from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. Mediation can help address conflicts related to sexual orientation discrimination.

  • The Employment Rights (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004: These regulations provide guidance on resolving employment disputes, including the use of mediation as an alternative to formal procedures.

You may also need these resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this in my small business?

Yes. This template has been designed for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses, charities and growing employers. It follows UK employment law best practice and can be adapted to suit your organisation.

Is it compliant with 2026 UK employment law?

Our templates are developed with UK employment legislation, Acas guidance and HR best practice in mind and are reviewed and updated as relevant requirements change. However, every employment situation is different, so the template should be adapted to the circumstances and checked against the employee's contract and your organisation's procedures before use.

Can I customise it for my organisation?

Yes, we highlight the areas of the document that you need to update with your own details, and where you need to make decisions to suit your situation. This saves you time and ensures that you meet best practice.

Do I get instant access to it?

Yes. Once purchased, you'll be able to download it instantly. Templates are provided in editable format (such as .doc or .xls) so you can customise them easily, and in PDF format for easy sharing.

What if I need more help, not just this template?

If you're looking for broader support, we also offer toolkits and library bundles that include the Managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.

Why should I use this Managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation, and not AI to generate it?

AI can produce a document quickly, but effective HR documentation needs to be more than well-written words. It needs to reflect relevant UK employment law, HR best practice, practical considerations and the circumstances in which it will be used. These resources have been professionally developed around that wider HR context, drawing on extensive practical experience, rather than simply generating a generic document from a prompt.

How this content is developed and reviewed

The Managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation is developed using a practical HR methodology that considers current UK employment legislation, ACAS guidance, CIPD good practice and the real-world HR process it supports. Templates are regularly reviewed and updated, with additional reviews triggered by significant changes to legislation, guidance or established HR practice, helping ensure each document remains practical, relevant and suitable for UK employers.

About the author

Darryl Horn, Chartered HR Director

Darryl is a Chartered HR professional with over 25 years' experience in senior HR and employee relations roles.

He has extensive practical experience of managing grievance processes and founded hrdocbox to provide businesses with practical, professionally developed HR resources grounded in UK employment law and best practice.

HRDocBox has been creating practical UK HR documents since 2009.

Executive recommendation

"Darryl provides support and advice with excellent judgement, and has a strong understanding of people, policies and UK employment legislation."

"He is someone I trust; consistent, dependable, and committed to doing things properly."

RB
Ruth Brock Chief Executive Officer The Hygiene Bank
The Managers guide to managing conflict at work through mediation is also included in these bundles:

Grievance toolkit Grievance toolkit 23 templates
£34.90

Management library Management library 470 templates
£79.99

Full library Full library 778 templates
£99.99

Get started today

HR confidence starts here

Whether you employ 5 people or 50, hrdocbox gives you the structure, documents and expertise needed to manage employees professionally and legally.

Download your FREE UK employment contract template

Professionally written and fully compliant with UK employment law

Download FREE contract
Free UK employment contract template