The EEO Officer will provide you and the designated agency official with the name of the mediator along with a biographical sketch. You or the agency may reject a prospective mediator only if a potential conflict of interest is identified. Both parties may designate a representative of choice. Once a representative has been designated, the EEO Officer should immediately be informed. Although the mediator has up to 45 calendar days to assist parties to reach a mutually agreeable resolution, mediation sessions typically last no more than a few days.
All information obtained in mediation sessions is confidential.
If the complaint become formal, statements made in settlement negotiations may not be used as evidence. Confidentiality increases the flow of communication between parties. This is crucial in reaching mutual resolution. At the conclusion of resolution efforts, the mediator will provide the employee with an official Termination of Mediation Notice. Agreements reached in mediation become binding after clearance by the appropriate authorities.