Bay Area Blog

Labor disputes have been in the news all summer. From businesses and industries voting to unionize to existing unions going on strike to massive employment class action lawsuits being certified, there have been new examples of how workplace disputes boil over every week. 

Mediation is more than just a single meeting. It is a structured process that involves preparation and communication to achieve the best results.  In fact, preparation is often more important for mediation than other negotiation types. Being well-prepared makes it easier to explain

Business partnerships take time and effort to maintain, just like any other professional relationship. However, issues within a partnership can have much more significant effects than disagreements between coworkers. Without effort by both parties, arguments can spell the end of the business. This

Whenever multiple people work together toward the same goal, conflict is inevitable. It’s natural for people to disagree about how to accomplish tasks or what should be prioritized. As organizations grow, the opportunities for disputes increase.  Conflict on its own is not a

There are many philosophies regarding the most effective negotiation techniques. Some people recommend an aggressive approach, while others prefer collaborating with their negotiation partners.  Aggressive negotiation techniques include making extreme demands, setting hard deadlines, using aggressive language, and issuing ultimatums. In contrast, collaborative

One of the biggest benefits of mediation is that it allows parties with a dispute to voluntarily negotiate a solution. However, some people assume that, since mediation agreements are voluntary, they are not binding. This is simply not true.  Mediation is valuable because