These efforts, and others, proved effective. For example, EDR's mediation activities increased sharply. This is a major development in the area of conflict resolution and one which must be encouraged in future years. I will monitor this development closely. As a long-time employment lawyer, I know first hand the significant costs associated with unresolved workplace conflict, both in dollars and personnel.
Early intervention is the best remedy for such conflict.
As many people learned last year, EDR's mediation service provides that opportunity for early intervention. I urge all state employees experiencing workplace conflict to try mediation - it can only help. In the statewide survey of state employees, a large number of those employees who responded did not believe that the grievance procedure is a fair way to resolve disputes between employees and management. I will continue to look for ways to improve the integrity of this system. Perhaps the most significant challenge which EDR faces with the grievance procedure is raising the quality and consistency of hearing officers' written decisions.