MEDIATE MEDIATE How Can I Learn More?

For further information, visit our website at

www.eeoc.gov or contact:

1-800-669-4000 (voice)

or

1-800-669-6820 (TTY)

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a 

FAIR and EFFICIENT process 

to help you resolve your 

employment disputes 

and reach an agreement.

A neutral mediator assists you in reaching 

a voluntary, negotiated agreement.

How does it work at the EEOC?

The decision to mediate is completely voluntary for

the charging party and the employer.

When a complaint is filed, the parties may be

offered mediation.

If both the charging party and employer agree,

mediation will be scheduled by an experienced

mediator.

During mediation, both sides will be able to

exchange information and express expectations for

reaching resolution.

The parties work to reach common ground and

resolve their differences. An agreement reached in

mediation is as binding as any settlement reached

through EEOC.

If an agreement is not reached, the case will be

referred to EEOC's investigative process to be

handled like any other case.

Information disclosed during mediation will not be

revealed to anyone ... including other EEOC

employees.

Choose Mediation to

Resolve Employment

Discrimination

Disputes

Why labor through months of 

investigation or litigation?

Mediation ...

IS FAIR AND NEUTRAL

Parties have an equal say in the process and the

parties decide the settlement terms. Not the

mediator! There is no determination of guilt or

innocence in the process. 

SAVES TIME AND MONEY

Many mediated settlements are completed in one

meeting and legal or other representation is

permitted in all cases, but not required.

IS CONFIDENTIAL

All parties sign an agreement of confidentiality at

the beginning of the process.

AVOIDS UNNECESSARY 

LITIGATION

Lengthy litigation CAN be avoided.

Mediation 

promotes a better

work environment,

reduces costs and

works for the

employer AND the

employee!

This pamphlet is available in accessible 

formats for persons with disabilities.

Duplication of EEOC publications is permitted.
MEDIATE! MEDIATE!

MEDIATE! MEDIATE!

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Chairwoman Ida L. Castro

Fair,

Efficient

And

Everyone

Wins

Employment Discrimination Charges

MEDIATE!

Fair,

Efficient

And

Everyone

Wins

“I was very satisfied with the process and I

think all the managers would agree with

that. The outcome was far better than

anything that could have been obtained

through administrative proceedings.”

Mike Godfrey, 

Senior Vice President and 

General Counsel, FINA.

“I have been involved in four separate

mediations conducted by the EEOC. I think

the process is effective and efficient,

particularly when an employee is still

employed by the respondent.” 

Julia Carter, 

Arizona Center for Disability Law.

“Our resolution rate in mediation

between the EEOC and state and local

agencies is 70 percent resolution at the

table, and that typically is in the one-day

mediation stage. You get it done and 

focus on resolution.”

Deborah Lilly, 

Director of Fair Employment for

Giant Food, Inc.

Publication EEOC-BK-26

For a list of EEOC publications, or to

order publications visit our website at

www.eeoc.gov or write, call or fax:

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission

Publications Distribution Center

P.O. Box 12549

Cincinnati, Ohio 45212-0549

1-800-669-3362 (voice)

1-800-800-3302 (TTY)

513-489-8692 (fax)

Washington, D.C. 20507