Source: https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Special-Staff/Office-of-Equal-Opportunity/Alternate-Dispute-Resolution/Definitions/
Timestamp: 2020-08-07 01:20:54
Document Index: 654318676

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 571', '§ 574', '§ 571', '§ 571', '§ 571', '§ 571', '§ 571']

Definitions - Alternate Dispute Resolution - Office of Equal Opportunity - The National Guard
Home : Leadership : Joint Staff : Special Staff : Office of Equal Opportunity : Alternate Dispute Resolution : Definitions
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) - Any procedure that is used to resolve issues in controversy, including but not limited to facilitation, mediation, fact-finding, mini-trials, arbitration, and the use of ombudsmen, or any combination thereof (5 U.S.C. § 571(3)). In disputes, ADR proceedings utilize the services of a neutral third party to assist the parties resolve their dispute. Specific ADR procedures are defined as follows:
Arbitration involves the parties mutual selection of a neutral third party, an arbitrator, to decide the issue in controversy after hearing witnesses, considering other items of evidence, and listening to the arguments of each side. The arbitrator’s decision, called an award, can be binding or nonbinding, depending on the parties’ agreement, but National Guard policy generally precludes binding arbitration outside of the collective bargaining context. Although commonly considered an ADR process, arbitration is not favored as an alternative process for resolving National Guard workplace disputes because of its use as the final step of negotiated grievance procedures in National Guard collective bargaining agreements.
Refers to the protection from voluntary or compulsory disclosure, afforded by the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1996, to certain dispute resolution communications given in confidence for the purposes of a dispute resolution proceeding. See ADRA, 5 U.S.C. § 574.
Any oral or written communication prepared for the purposes of a dispute resolution proceeding, including any memoranda, notes or work product of the neutral, parties or nonparty participant. A written agreement to enter into a dispute resolution proceeding, or final written agreement or arbitration award reached as a result of a dispute resolution proceeding, is not a dispute resolution communication. See 5 U.S.C. § 571(5).
Any process in which an alternative means of dispute resolution is used to resolve an issue in controversy in which a neutral is appointed and specified parties participate (5 U.S.C. § 571(6)).
A structured process in which the parties seek the assistance of a subject matter expert to review the dispute and to provide an assessment of the likely outcome of the dispute based on the facts as found or as agreed to by the parties.
An unstructured and flexible process in which a trained third party neutral (not necessarily a mediator) assists the parties to resolve issues in controversy by utilizing interest-based negotiation techniques.
A relatively informal process in which a neutral third party examines the evidence to determine the facts giving rise to the dispute, in order to assist the parties negotiate a resolution.
Information provided -- (A) with the expressed intent of the source that it not be disclosed; or (B) under circumstances that would create the reasonable expectation on behalf of the source that the information will not be disclosed (5 U.S.C. § 571(7)).
Issue In Controversy
An issue which is material to a decision concerning an administrative program of an agency, and with which there is disagreement -- (A) between an agency and persons who would be substantially affected by the decision; or (B) between persons who would be substantially affected by the decision (5 U.S.C. § 571(8)).
A structured process in which the parties seek the assistance of a qualified mediator to help them in resolving their issue in controversy. The primary attributes of mediation are a structured process, the use of interest-based negotiation techniques, and the use of joint and separate confidential (option of the parties) caucuses between each party and the mediator.
An individual who, with respect to an issue in controversy, functions specifically to aid the parties in resolving the controversy (5 U.S.C. § 571(9)). This individual may be a Federal government employee or someone outside the Government. For purposes of determining whether communications are confidential, the term “neutral” also includes ADR intake or other administrative personnel designated and identified by the ADR manager as a neutral for the purpose of taking information from the party or parties to a dispute to assist them in deciding whether to use a dispute resolution proceeding to resolve the dispute.
Other forms of ADR not specifically identified in the ADRA include peer review panels, which are panels consisting of employees, or a combination of employees and management officials, appointed to review the facts, hear arguments, and render decisions on issues in controversy. Alternatively, an organization may employ a technique that is considered part of another agency's ADR program, such as the FLRA or EEOC. In addition, a dispute may be resolved by the use of a Federal Court's ADR program.