Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the answers to some common questions about mediation. If your question isn't answered, please email us!
Can I bring another person along to support me?
This is a popular question and an understandable one. Hopefully, as a result partly of the answer to the previous question and of the separate meeting with each party, you will build up enough confidence in the process for you to feel safe without having a supporter. However, a supporter may attend; this ‘other person’ may not necessarily be allowed to contribute on your behalf — mediation is in this way unlike formal hearings, and encourages you to be in control of the process.
Even union reps may be colleagues, often of both parties to a dispute, and their presence may compromise themselves or either party. If there are several people on each side of a dispute it may be reasonable to have more than one representative from each party but not at the expense of power balances. When several people are present in this context, each may contribute to the mediation.