Mediation on Thursday

Hannaho

Hi! I'm going to mediation on Thursday with a colleague who was very nasty to me - making derogatory remarks about single parents of which I am one, letting an intern take home my personal folder with confidential data on it,, making constant snide remarks about how I wasn't as popular as it seemed etc. agreeing to holiday dates and then wanting and insisting on having the dates I had agreed to take, and engaging in exclusionery tactics with another colleague who is now gone.

My colleague and our boss have tried to prevent and delay the mediation which I requested. My colleague provides a constant listening ear to our boss - a guy, they work the same shift together, and he passes messages meant for me through my colleague.

My question is do I say any of this at the mediation on Thursday. What is mediation supposed to achieve, what should I expect from it The atmosphere between my work colleague and I is cordial at work. I just am not able to trust her again. I worry that when a new colleague starts in two months time that she will suck up to him and the exclusionery tactics will start again. I thought the mediation would be about setting ground rules about appropriate behaviour in the office, e..g. so that remarks like the remarks that were made would not happen again. What else should I expect. I suppose what I have found is that you will be victimised if you make a complaint even if that complaint has a basis - would really welcome some advice on the mediation.

blindsider

Assuming the mediator is accredited, impartial and experienced, you should be ok. If it's a friend of the boss, I'd be wary.

The Mediator should start by introducing themselves and their quals/experience. They should then explain any ground rules - you'll know from there where you stand.