Furthermore, societies and individuals can be held jointly and severally liable under common law or statute law for any act or omission that might be considered negligence or failing to fulfill an obligation under law. These accommodations may range from arranging for alternate working conditions to suspending an individual from his or her normal duties and privileges pending the outcome of an investigation. Resolution of Disputes Conflict and disputes between individuals and groups are normal characteristics of the operation of student societies. Indeed, some people would say that conflict is necessary to the healthy growth of an organization. In some cases, however, conflict and disputes cannot be readily resolved through a society's own means.
Mediation is a technique used to help two or ore parties resolve a dispute relatively informally.
Mediation might be an appropriate route to follow when there is an unresolvable disagreement between executive or council members, or when there is a case of harassment in which the two parties are both willing to resolve the situation informally. Mediation is an option for certain types of offences in some University policies. The University of Toronto uses the services of mediators trained by St. Stephen's Community House.