A New Year, a New Job… or Is Workplace Mediation the Better Option?

At the start if a New Year many people find themselves reflecting on their working lives and asking a difficult question: “Do I really want to stay in this job?”

At Latitude Mediation, we speak to individuals every year who are considering leaving their role because of ongoing workplace issues, despite the fact that the job was once a dream role, carefully chosen and hard won.

Workplace conflict can quietly erode confidence, motivation, and wellbeing. But before making the significant decision to resign and start again elsewhere, it is worth considering whether workplace mediation offers a more constructive and less disruptive alternative.

Why So Many People Leave Jobs They Once Loved

In our experience at Latitude Mediation, people rarely leave jobs because of the work itself. More often, they leave because of unresolved workplace conflict, such as:

• Ongoing tension with a colleague or line manager
• Communication breakdowns that have escalated over time
• Feeling unheard, marginalised, or unfairly treated
• A loss of trust following a specific incident or organisational change
• Differences in values, expectations, or working styles

When these issues remain unaddressed, even a role that once felt meaningful can become unsustainable.

The instinctive response is often to find a new job. However, changing roles does not always resolve the underlying dynamics, and it comes with its own professional, financial, and emotional costs.

What Is Workplace Mediation?

Workplace mediation is a confidential, voluntary process facilitated by an independent and impartial mediator.

At Latitude Mediation, workplace mediation provides a structured space for individuals to:

• Speak openly and be heard
• Understand how conflict has developed
• Explore different perspectives
• Rebuild professional communication
• Agree practical steps for moving forward

Unlike formal grievance or disciplinary processes, workplace mediation is non-adversarial and future-focused. It is designed to support resolution, not escalation.

Who Pays for Workplace Mediation?

One of the most significant benefits of workplace mediation is that it is usually funded by the organisation.

This is important for two reasons:

1. There is no personal cost to the employee
2. The mediator is instructed as a neutral professional, not as an advocate for either party
3. Employers understand that they will not receive detailed feedback about the mediation unless participants agree to them seeing relevant information.

Organisations choose workplace mediation because unresolved conflict is expensive, contributing to absenteeism, low morale, high turnover, and formal disputes. Mediation provides a proportionate, confidential, and professional solution that supports both individuals and the wider organisation.

Latitude Mediation is experienced in working alongside HR teams and senior leadership while maintaining strict impartiality throughout the process.

Why Workplace Mediation Can Be Preferable to Starting Over

Before leaving a role you once valued, workplace mediation offers the opportunity to:

• Have a safe, supported conversation without blame
• Address issues before they become formal complaints
• Restore working relationships where possible
• Maintain career continuity and financial stability
• Regain confidence and professional clarity

Workplace mediation does not minimise the impact of what you have experienced. Instead, it provides a structured opportunity to resolve conflict, rather than simply escaping it.

Many individuals tell us that even when mediation does not result in long-term continuation in the role, the process itself provides closure, insight, and empowerment.

Mediation Is Not About Enduring Poor Treatment

Choosing workplace mediation does not mean accepting unacceptable behaviour or ignoring serious concerns. It is not a replacement for safeguarding, whistleblowing, or formal procedures where those are necessary.

Rather, workplace mediation is appropriate where communication has broken down, relationships are strained, and conflict has become entrenched , but where there is still potential for repair.

At Latitude Mediation, we carefully assess suitability and ensure that mediation is only offered where it is appropriate and safe to do so.

A New Year Is About Informed Choices

The New Year often brings a strong desire for change. But change does not always have to mean walking away.

If workplace conflict is driving your thoughts of resignation, it may be worth asking one final question:

“Before I leave, is there a supported way to try to fix what’s broken?”

At Latitude Mediation, we provide independent, confidential workplace mediation designed to repair communication, address conflict constructively, and explore realistic options for the future.

To enquire about workplace mediation or make a referral, contact Latitude Mediation today: info@latitudemediation.co.uk or click here.

Early intervention can prevent escalation , and unnecessary career disruption.