Employment mediators may be asked to resolve conflicts between current co-workers, or
between an employee and a supervisor each of whom will continue to work together. Often the real issue
is a lack of mutual respect. This said, describing respectful, future behavior in a settlement agreement can be a puzzle. An approach that I sometimes use is to suggest discussing whether a generalized commitment to demonstrate respect could be supplemented by including promises governing:
1. Acting with civility, and courtesy;
2. Greeting each other at the beginning of the workday, and saying goodbye on leaving the job;
3. Acknowledging promptly and courteously the other’s request for information, or assistance;
4. Listening without interrupting before responding;
5. Keeping our voices at an appropriate level;
6. Disagreeing with deference by focusing on the issue, not by attacking the other person;
7. Asking for the other person’s opinion about solving an issue, i.e., “What would you do in my place?”;
8. Never using sarcastic, abusive, threatening, or profane language;
9. Apologizing when wrong;
10. Honoring commitments to the other, i.e., “Keeping my word”; and
11. Using appropriate channels to raise any workplace issue that remains a source of concern.