Alternative dispute resolution offers viable options for settling arguments out of court. Legal disputes have become inevitable events that plague almost every individual and business. Statistics from the American Bar Association show that 1 in 3 will have a legal dilemma each year. Our highly litigious society has created an overloaded and overworked court system. If the parties are truly committed to resolving their disagreement, ADR is a less expensive, quicker and more efficient way of resolving differences without the need for lengthy, confusing and expensive civil litigation.
Ombudsmen usually help settle disputes between employers and employees.
An ombudsman is a person, typically upper management, trained in negotiation and dispute resolution. He or she serves as a neutral party to open up the lines of communication between the employee and the management personnel at the basis of the employee's complaint. Ombudsmen are generally selected for their excellent communication skills and for the respect that their coworkers and employees attribute to them. An organization may set this policy as a way of letting their employees know that they care about their well being and that the company is eager to address any employee concerns. Mediation is when two opposing parties jointly select an impartial third party mediator to review their differences.