ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION OF EMPLOYMENT CONFLICTS: THE SEARCH FOR STANDARDS

RICHARD E. DIBBLE

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DOI: 10.2190/2R21-UMMY-R6DK-UCBU

Abstract

Employee complaints regarding workplace conditions, treatment, and alleged violations of their various statutory rights occur in all organizations. Efforts to resolve such grievances through appeal to government regulatory agencies or the courts is usually a very time consuming, expensive and frustrating process. Employers, public and private, are increasingly offering alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, such as ombudspersons, complaint procedures, mediation and arbitration, in an effort a resolve complaints sooner, and at lower cost. Expanded use of such procedures has raised concerns about their quality and whether they provide adequate protection to employees, especially where statutory rights are at issue. This article examines the trend toward wider use of ADR for setting employment conflicts and recent proposals for quality standards for such procedures.

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