The Legislature intended the grievance procedure to provide a simple, expeditious and fair process for resolving problems at the lowest possible administrative level. Mediation is a voluntary option the parties should consider for resolving their dispute quickly. Mediation can be requested at level two or three of the procedure, before an evidentiary hearing has been held. Mediation is a private, informal way to resolve a dispute. A mediator is a neutral third person who tries to aid disputing parties in reaching a mutually agreeable solution to their differences.
Mediation emphasizes problem solving.
The mediator's role is to facilitate communication to help the parties resolve their dispute, not to decide who is right or wrong, or to impose a settlement upon them. The mediator may assist the parties in generating alternatives to solve the problem. They have experience mediating disputes in federal and state courts, and before administrative agencies, such as the West Virginia Human Rights Commission. Any party willing to attempt to settle a grievance through mediation may contact the other parties to find out if they are agreeable to mediation. As an alternative, any party may contact the Board's Charleston Office to initiate the mediation process.