Laura A. Athens
Facilitation can be an invaluable tool to promote a positive work environment and prevent escalation of employment disputes. In contrast to mediation, which focuses on disputes that have reached an impasse or resulted in filing of a formal complaint,
facilitation may be used at the inception of an employment conflict. Facilitation is particularly effective in addressing workplace climate issues, such as incivility, bullying, harassment and disputes concerning promotion, salary and benefits.
Workplace Concerns Incivility and bullying are prevalent in the workplace. According to a 2017 online survey of over 1,000 workers conducted by Workplace Bullying Institute, nineteen percent of Americans have suffered abusive conduct at work. The survey defined abusive conduct as repeated mistreatment or conduct that is threatening, intimidating, humiliating, verbally abusive orinvolves work sabotage. Twenty percent of bullying incidents involved an underlying discrimination component.
The Workplace Bullying Institute survey further indicated that twenty-nine percent of workers remained silent about the abusive conduct. Only 18% filed a formal complaint and 71% of employers who were informed of the abuse took steps that were not beneficial. The employers conducted “sham” investigations that did not include interviews of key individuals and accorded greater weight to the perpetrator’s version of events. The adverse impact on targets was significant. Fifty-four percent of targets either quit, were terminated or transferred to a different job within the workplace. In contrast, a negative impact on the perpetrator’s job only occurred 36% of the time.
Utilizing facilitation can engender significant and enduring climate changes in the work environment. It is aimed at improving the workplace by fostering candid communication and joint problem solving. The facilitator’s job is to ensure that all key stakeholders have an opportunity to be heard, options are explored, and sustainable solutions are reached through a collaborative process.
Pre-facilitation Interviews and Work Environment Survey Initially, the facilitator meets with the employer or supervisor who requested facilitation to get a sense of the nature and scope of employment issues. Through this initial interview, the facilitator learns about the history, traditions and practices of the workplace. Having a sense of the “back story” helps the facilitator work more effectively with the employer and employees when it comes time to facilitate a group discussion.
Conducting pre-facilitation interviews with the employer and employees provides the facilitator with a meaningful perspective on the work environment culture and climate. Based on the initial meeting with the employer, the facilitator formulates open ended questions to provide structure for individual interviews.
During the pre-facilitation interviews, it is essential to maintain confidentiality. This allows individuals to feel free to candidly
express their concerns without fear of censure or reprisal. The facilitator provides individuals with the assurance that anything discussed during the interviews will remain conf idential unless permission is specifically granted to share information with another. The private interviews with a neutral third par ty provide both employers and employees with an opportunity to reflect on their work environment and offer a safe space to express their interests, concerns and priorities.
A work environment survey can yield useful information. Surveys can be as simple as asking employees to endorse or rate a listof positive and negative workplace characteristics, such as whether the current workplace is collaborative, competitive, confrontational, creative, respectful, mistrusting, disengaged, disrespectful, harmonious or secretive. Follow up questions may include the same list of characteristics with a focus on priorities for the future work environment.
To encourage candid communication, it is important to convey to participants that any information obtained through the individual interviews or a survey will remain anonymous while the results will be compiled and reported to all stakeholders without identifying the particular source.
Facilitated Small Group Meetings – Another step in the facilitation process may include facilitated small group meetings. This component can be especially useful when the workplace contains subgroups whose interests are closelyaligned. Careful consideration of the composition of the small groups is crucial. Typically, the objectives of the small group meeting would be discussing prevalent interests and concerns raised during the individual interviews, selecting priorities, building consensus and agreeing on recommendations to present to the larger group at a subsequent facilitation.
At this stage of the facilitation process, employers often find it helpful for the facilitator to prepare and disseminate a written summary describing information obtained through the individual interviews, survey and small group meetings. Dissemination of the facilitator’s summary with preliminary recommendations well in advance of the large group facilitation gives everyone an opportunity to digest the information and reflect on potential solutions.
The invitation to a facilitation meeting typically contains the purpose of the meeting, an agenda or specific objectives, anticipated outcomes and may include any pre-meeting readings or other requirements. The invitation also sets forth a clear timeframe for the meeting.
Facilitated Large Group Meeting Creating a safe and energizing environment for the facilitation is essential. Similar to mediation, the setting and configuration of the meeting room for the facilitation are important considerations. Rooms with windows to the outside, natural lighting and pleasant wall hangings will be more comfortable. Arranging tables and chairs to ensure all participants can see and hear one another is more conducive to constructive conversation and active engagement.
Providing snacks and beverages can help ward off “hangry” behavior. Having props available, such as a flip chart, white board, markers, note cards and sticky dots will encourage creativity and interaction. An ice breaker exercise is an engaging way to begin the facilitation and primes the participants for active engagement.
At the inception of the group facilitation, the facilitator greets and acknowledges participants as they enter the room. When the meeting begins, the facilitator repeats the purpose and meeting objectives to ensure everyone is on same page. Ground rules or protocols for the meeting are reviewed and accepted. During the facilitation, the facilitator’s role is to ensure that participants have an opportunity to be heard and the meeting progresses in a productive manner.
The facilitator also serves as a role model of respect by demonstrating attentive listening without judgment, empathy and good communication skills. The facilitator ensures that the focus of the meeting remains on the intended purpose and objectives for the meeting. The facilitator guides the group through consensus building with a calm and confident demeanor. If blaming or negative comments occur, the facilitator defuses and reframes them to focus on the positive and future solutions.
A good facilitator encourages transparency and helps the parties maintain or build trust. The facilitator does not try to take over the meeting or impose his or her own viewpoint. Instead, the facilitator points out commonalities, brings attention to areas of agreement and assists participants in understanding each other’s perspectives without becoming defensive. The facilitator clarifies expectations, requests fur ther explanation, addresses misunderstandings, redirects or slows down the conversation and supports the group in reaching productive decisions. Like mediation, facilitation focuses on the future, rather than the past, to move the participants forward and determine what needs to be done.
Because the group wants results, the ultimate goal of facilitation is a commitment to action. Although review of climate, culture and workplace concerns is important, it becomes a meaningless exercise if no action is taken. The facilitator has a responsibility to help the group develop a plan of action to operationalize consensuses reached.
After the large group facilitation, the facilitator frequently prepares a summary of decisions reached and a description of the agreed upon course of action. If assistance is needed with implementation of the plan, the facilitator can serve as a valuable ongoing resource.
Facilitation can be transformative. It permits employers and employees to engage in authentic dialogue and reach collective decisions aligned with their core values. Employers should consider facilitation as a means of conflict resolution when faced with bullying, harassment or salary and promotion issues. The facilitator should be selected with care to ensure the facilitator has the expertise and experience to generate positive change. A good facilitator can save the employer time, energy and expense by efficiently and effectively resolving the dispute and restoring a productive and collaborative work environment.
————————
Laura A. Athens is an attorney, mediator and arbitrator in Farmington Hills. Athens provides alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services in a variety of matters. She mediates and facilitates special and general education, vocational rehabilitation, university faculty grievance, employment, guardianship and disability rights cases. Athens previously served as a Hearing Officer in special education and vocational rehabilitation due process hearings. As an adjunct professor at Wayne State University Law School, Athens taught education law, health law and bioethics. Athens also taught Legal Research and Writing at Washington University School of Law. She is an associate of Professional Resolution Experts of Michigan LLC (PREMi, https://premiadr.com/) and has served on the State Bar of Michigan Alternative Dispute Resolution Council and as a former chair of the Oakland County Bar Association ADR Committee. Athens has published numerous articles on education law, mediation and arbitration and frequently lectures and appears on cable TV programs regarding ADR and school-related topics.
Our Professionals
Case Studies
melatonin 3 mg sale buy danazol 100 mg pills order danazol sale
buy dydrogesterone online cheap purchase sitagliptin online cheap order jardiance generic
buy prasugrel pill tolterodine 1mg pills tolterodine 1mg drug
monograph 600mg sale order cilostazol 100 mg sale buy pletal sale
buy generic ferrous sulfate over the counter buy ferrous sulfate medication betapace uk
lipitor 40mg brand buy lipitor generic amlodipine 10mg uk
buy accutane 40mg buy zithromax 500mg for sale azithromycin 250mg canada
azipro cost buy azithromycin 500mg online buy neurontin 800mg online cheap
purchase pantoprazole generic order prinivil without prescription generic pyridium 200mg
san manuel casino online brand furosemide furosemide order
blackjack for money online casino for real cash ventolin 2mg sale
buy amantadine 100mg online tenormin 50mg for sale aczone 100mg uk
international pharmacies
cheap drugs canada
online casino usa real money brand stromectol 3mg generic ivermectin online
canadian drug store cialis
Your article gave me a lot of inspiration, I hope you can explain your point of view in more detail, because I have some doubts, thank you. 20bet
buy methylprednisolone uk buy triamcinolone paypal cheap aristocort 10mg
mexican mail order pharmacy
buy clomid 50mg isosorbide 40mg cost buy azathioprine no prescription
buy cheap coversum generic clarinex 5mg allegra 120mg pills
order levitra 20mg for sale buy cheap tizanidine brand tizanidine
cost prescriptions
order generic dilantin 100 mg buy dilantin 100 mg without prescription oxytrol for sale
order claritin pill buy dapoxetine 90mg without prescription buy priligy 90mg
order baclofen 10mg pills purchase toradol sale buy toradol online
order generic glimepiride 4mg order generic amaryl 4mg buy arcoxia 60mg online cheap
buy baclofen pill endep 10mg sale buy ketorolac generic
order alendronate online buy colcrys online cheap macrodantin online buy
mexican drugstore online
inderal online order inderal 20mg cost clopidogrel 150mg price
prescription price comparison
buy pamelor cheap nortriptyline 25mg tablet order anacin 500mg online
orlistat 120mg over the counter xenical medication diltiazem 180mg usa
purchase warfarin online cheap order generic paxil 10mg purchase reglan
purchase astelin buy acyclovir 400mg without prescription order irbesartan 300mg online
order famotidine generic buy prograf 1mg for sale tacrolimus 5mg canada
buy zyloprim 300mg online cheap order clobetasol generic generic rosuvastatin 10mg
nexium 20mg canada nexium 20mg sale order topamax 200mg for sale
imitrex 25mg for sale order avodart 0.5mg online cheap avodart tablet
buy generic buspar online buy generic buspirone 5mg buy amiodarone paypal
ranitidine 150mg oral meloxicam for sale online order celebrex without prescription
motilium online buy motilium 10mg price tetracycline cheap
tamsulosin 0.4mg without prescription generic zofran zocor 10mg canada
pay for research papers online thesis writing buying an essay
order aurogra 100mg generic sildenafil 100mg tablet buy yasmin generic
forcan over the counter order ampicillin sale buy baycip tablets
buy lamictal for sale lamictal 200mg price nemazole online buy
purchase flagyl pill order keflex 250mg online keflex 250mg pills
tretinoin us purchase retin online stendra without prescription
buy tadacip 20mg online buy tadacip 10mg online cheap indomethacin over the counter
order nolvadex generic betahistine us symbicort online
lamisil sale free slot games for fun poker online for real money
buy generic ceftin online lumigan medication order robaxin pills
trazodone online buy desyrel 100mg over the counter order clindac a for sale
https://withoutprescription.guru/# online prescription for ed meds
buy a research paper online immigration research paper purchase suprax generic
aspirin 75 mg oral casino real money free play best online casino
prednisone 54: prednisone 20mg capsule – 50 mg prednisone canada pharmacy
amoxicillin 250mg brand buy anastrozole online buy clarithromycin generic
https://withoutprescription.guru/# prescription drugs without doctor approval
cheap essay writing play slots online online casino with free signup bonus real money usa
https://withoutprescription.guru/# real viagra without a doctor prescription usa
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs: mexican pharmaceuticals online – buying prescription drugs in mexico
buy doxycycline for dogs: doxycycline 200 mg – buy cheap doxycycline
prescription drugs online without doctor: non prescription erection pills – prescription drugs online without
Kamagra 100mg price buy Kamagra Kamagra 100mg price
https://edpills.monster/# over the counter erectile dysfunction pills
https://sildenafil.win/# sildenafil generic for sale
Buy Vardenafil online: Buy Vardenafil 20mg online – Levitra generic best price
purchase clonidine online buy spiriva paypal order spiriva generic
https://levitra.icu/# Buy generic Levitra online
http://kamagra.team/# Kamagra Oral Jelly
buy kamagra online usa: Kamagra 100mg – buy Kamagra
sildenafil 50mg tablets uk buy sildenafil in usa cheapest uk sildenafil
http://edpills.monster/# ed treatment review
sildenafil price usa: can i buy sildenafil online – buy sildenafil viagra
order minocin 50mg capsules order hytrin pill purchase requip pills
ed treatments: ed drugs list – erectile dysfunction drugs
best cure for teenage acne acne medication pills that work buy oxcarbazepine 600mg generic
Cheap Levitra online Levitra 10 mg best price Levitra generic best price
amoxicillin 500 mg where to buy: purchase amoxicillin online – amoxicillin medicine over the counter
doxycycline capsules 50mg 100mg Buy doxycycline for chlamydia doxycycline 100 cost
purchase cipro: Get cheapest Ciprofloxacin online – cipro ciprofloxacin
https://ciprofloxacin.men/# buy generic ciprofloxacin
lisinopril 10 mg coupon: prescription drug zestril – medicine lisinopril 10 mg
lisinopril oral Buy Lisinopril 20 mg online cheap lisinopril
https://lisinopril.auction/# lisinopril 12.5 mg 20 mg
buy uroxatral for sale allergy med comparison chart acid medication list
purchase zithromax online: zithromax antibiotic without prescription – how to get zithromax online
doxycycline 5553: buy doxycycline over the counter – cost of doxycycline australia
buy femara 2.5mg pill purchase abilify pill buy generic abilify
generic zithromax 500mg zithromax z-pak buy zithromax without prescription online
http://ciprofloxacin.men/# cipro pharmacy
buy ciprofloxacin: buy ciprofloxacin online – buy generic ciprofloxacin
prescription for amoxicillin amoxil for sale generic amoxicillin 500mg
http://azithromycin.bar/# zithromax over the counter canada
ciprofloxacin 500 mg tablet price: ciprofloxacin without insurance – buy ciprofloxacin over the counter
ciprofloxacin over the counter: buy ciprofloxacin over the counter – buy cipro online canada
buy strong sleeping pills alopecia new drug gnc weight loss supplements reviews
zithromax 250 mg buy zithromax canada zithromax z-pak
http://amoxicillin.best/# generic for amoxicillin
cost provera 5mg provera order online microzide for sale online
30mg lisinopril: lisinopril online without a prescription – lisinopril 20 mg online
mexican mail order pharmacies: mexican pharmacy – mexico drug stores pharmacies
canadian neighborhood pharmacy online pharmacy no prescription medicine canada
best online canadian pharmacy: canada pharmacy online – reliable canadian pharmacy
https://mexicopharmacy.store/# purple pharmacy mexico price list
best internet pharmacies: buy prescription drugs online without doctor – trustworthy canadian pharmacy
best medication for smoking cessation medicine to stop smoking cigarettes prescription painkillers online for cheap
buy prescription drugs from india: indian pharmacies safe – india pharmacy mail order
http://indiapharmacy.site/# online shopping pharmacy india
periactin 4 mg pills buy cyproheptadine 4 mg cost nizoral
prescription drugs canada legal drugs buy online cheap rx drugs
online drugstore service canada: cheap drugs online – canadian pharmacies top best
reputable mexican pharmacies online: mexico pharmacy – medication from mexico pharmacy
paxlovid pill: buy paxlovid – paxlovid for sale
herpes pills online pharmapure sugar blocker reviews drugs approved for prediabetes
https://claritin.icu/# ventolin 200 mcg
cymbalta 20mg uk how to buy cymbalta modafinil 200mg price
generic wellbutrin cost: Buy Wellbutrin XL 300 mg online – wellbutrin online canada
https://wellbutrin.rest/# wellbutrin order online
neurontin online pharmacy: cheap gabapentin – buy cheap neurontin online
http://claritin.icu/# ventolin tabs 4mg
paxlovid for sale http://paxlovid.club/# paxlovid cost without insurance
fungal nail tablets water effect on bp high blood pressure prescription online
ventolin nz: Ventolin HFA Inhaler – order ventolin online no prescription
https://gabapentin.life/# how much is generic neurontin
buy generic phenergan over the counter promethazine 25mg cheap ivermectin tablet
ventolin cap: buy Ventolin inhaler – ventolin 95mcg
https://wellbutrin.rest/# wellbutrin online no prescription
peptic ulcer disease clinical guidelines duodenal ulcer treatment medicine best over counter uti medicine
https://clomid.club/# generic clomid without a prescription
ventolin: Ventolin inhaler – ventolin generic price
farmaci senza ricetta elenco: avanafil generico – farmacie online affidabili
purchase deltasone for sale buy isotretinoin 10mg sale amoxicillin 1000mg pill
farmacia senza ricetta recensioni: viagra online siti sicuri – cerco viagra a buon prezzo
https://avanafilit.icu/# acquisto farmaci con ricetta
migliori farmacie online 2023: avanafil spedra – farmacia online
comprare farmaci online all’estero: farmacia online miglior prezzo – comprare farmaci online all’estero
farmacia online cialis prezzo п»їfarmacia online migliore
acquisto farmaci con ricetta: Avanafil farmaco – farmacia online migliore
farmacia online migliore: farmacia online – top farmacia online
pillole per erezione immediata: viagra online siti sicuri – viagra naturale
http://farmaciait.pro/# migliori farmacie online 2023
acquistare farmaci senza ricetta: avanafil generico – farmacie online sicure
farmacie on line spedizione gratuita: avanafil prezzo – farmacia online piГ№ conveniente
farmacie online sicure comprare avanafil senza ricetta migliori farmacie online 2023
birth control commercial grocery store is prostatitis caused by bacteria yimusake tablets or qilin pills
viagra ordine telefonico: viagra senza ricetta – viagra generico in farmacia costo