Workplace mediation
A structured conversation, run by someone on nobody's side.
For colleagues, a staff member and their manager, or a whole team who can no longer talk it through on their own. We prepare each person separately, run a confidential session and put what's agreed in writing. Fixed price, by video anywhere in Australia.
Half day $2,900 or full day $4,900, ex GST
Often matched to workplace matters
Accredited mediators, not generalists.
Shiv, Justin and Serge
Sound familiar?
It might be time for mediation if...
- People have stopped speaking to each other, or only speak by email.
- Others are quietly rearranging their work to keep them apart.
- You've spoken to each of them, more than once, and nothing has shifted.
- Someone has mentioned leaving, or taking leave.
- The original issue was small. The silence around it isn't.
- They still want the job to work.
Choosing the right process
Mediation, or a management decision?
This is
Mediation
For a working relationship that has broken down, where the people involved are willing to talk and could agree on a way forward. The people involved own the outcome.
This is
A management decision
For an issue about performance, conduct or a rule that's been broken. That decision is yours to make, and mediation won't make it for you.
It isn't always obvious which one you're looking at. That's what the triage call is for, and if mediation isn't the right fit, we'll tell you.
How it works
What happens, in order.
$290, 45 minutes
Triage call
You tell us what's happening. We check that mediation is the right process, and if it isn't, we say so and suggest what is.
We help with the wording
Invitations
Mediation is voluntary. We help you invite everyone in a way that reads as support, not a summons.
Before the session
Separate preparation
The mediator speaks with each person on their own, so they know how the day will run and have thought about what they need from it.
3.5 or 7 hours
The session
A structured, confidential conversation by video, with private breaks whenever someone needs one. In person is possible if it would help.
Agreed points, in writing
Outcome note
What both people agree is written down clearly. What they said in the room stays there.
Pricing
One price, agreed before anything starts.
Half-day mediation
3.5-hour session, ex GST
$2,900
Full-day mediation
7-hour session, ex GST
$4,900
- A mediator matched to the matter
- Preparation with each person beforehand
- A structured, confidential session
- A short outcome note
Start with a $290 ex GST triage call: 45 minutes with an accredited mediator, then next-step recommendations by email. More than two people? We quote, because complexity varies. As a guide, allow about $700 for each extra participant.
On our panel
Who you might work with.
Founder, triage and mediation
Shiv Martin
Nationally accredited mediator and conciliator
Founder of the Shiv Martin Group. A mediator, conciliator and independent decision maker, and the person you'll speak with on a triage call.
Workplace mediation
Justin Toohey
Mediator and conciliator
Accredited since 2002. A decade as Director of Alternative Dispute Resolution at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Workplace mediation
Dr Serge Loode
Mediator, educator and conciliator
Nationally accredited mediator who mediates workplace disputes and teaches mediation and negotiation at university.
Every matter is matched on the triage call, and checked for conflicts of interest before anything is booked.
Who is involved?
Free tool, two minutes
Not sure which process fits?
Questions
Workplace mediation: common questions.
Will the business hear what was said?
No. What's said in the session stays there. The business sees only what everyone involved agrees it can see, which is usually the outcome note.
What if the other person won't take part?
Mediation is voluntary, so nobody can be made to attend. A triage call often helps here: we can talk through how to invite them, and what else you can do if they say no.
Half day or full day?
A contained matter usually fits in a half day. A full day suits matters that have been going on for a long time, involve several issues or several people. We'll recommend one on the triage call, and you decide.
What if it doesn't end in agreement?
Not every mediation ends in full agreement. Even then, people often leave clearer about where they stand, and anything that was agreed is written down. We'll talk through the options from there.
Is it confidential?
Yes. What's said in mediation stays in the room, within the usual limits, such as a serious risk to someone's safety. We explain those limits to everyone before we start.
Is this legal advice?
No. We don't give legal advice and we're not a law firm. If your situation needs a lawyer, we'll say so on the triage call, and we're happy to work alongside yours.
Where to next
- ServicesBusiness partner disputesCo-owners, directors and family businesses who need to agree on what happens next.Read more
- ServicesHR guidancePractical advice when you're handling a complaint, a grievance or a team that has stopped working.Read more
- How it worksNeutrality and confidentialityWhy we won't mediate a matter we've advised on, and how we keep what's said in the room.Read more
Request a triage call
Start in the middle.
Calm, clear and early is usually better than perfect and too late. $290 ex GST for 45 minutes, and a short email of next-step recommendations afterwards. No obligation to book further work.
- 1Send a request with a few lines about your situation.
- 2We reply within two business days, check suitability and agree on a time and payment arrangements.
- 3You speak with Shiv for 45 minutes, then receive a short email with next-step recommendations.
Shiv, Justin and Serge