Newly selected Ombuds Office Director Camilla Lopez wants Laboratory employees to know that she and her staff are a good first resource for addressing workplace problems.
“Many employees at the Laboratory don’t really know what Ombuds is all about,” said Lopez, who recently was selected to lead the Office by Richard Marquez, associate director for administration (ADA). “Part of the challenge I will face in my new role is creating an awareness of our office and its functions.”
Ombuds provides an independent, neutral and confidential venue in which employees can raise workplace issues that create conflict or have the potential to create or escalate conflict. Lopez and her team can help clients determine a proper course of action that will reduce or eliminate conflicts.
“We coach and mentor people and help them develop options,” Lopez said. “We are not there to make judgments, but rather to help people come to their own conclusions about what is the first step to take to resolve a situation.”
Ombuds staff members can help guide their visitors to resolution through dialogue that examines behaviors, actions, workplace environments and even issues at home that may be contributing to problems. Ombuds is an advocate of resolving issues at the lowest possible level. In that way, individuals and the institution can often be spared the emotional trauma or actual expenses associated with situations that escalate into grievances, lawsuits or other actions.
“People need to take those types of issues to other employee services at the Lab,” Lopez said. “We can act as a referral service to the proper venue for people who are looking for something beyond the scope of our office.” In fact, she envisions forming extended collaborations with other employee-resource organizations to aid in the office’s efforts.
Lopez said she also hopes the Ombuds Office can work with Laboratory organizations in the coming months to establish inter-organizational resources to provide Ombuds-like expertise for “easy” Ombuds issues. Earlier this year, Ombuds established a successful Employee Resource Council in Nuclear Materials Technology (NMT) Division. The council provides a model and testing ground for the satellite Ombuds-like concept. Of course, Lopez said, the main Ombuds Office would still be available to provide the confidentiality and expertise required for more complex issues.
“I am extremely excited about the potential for our office and the value that it can provide the institution,” Lopez said.
The Ombuds Office provides expertise in mediation and resolution of group conflicts, as well as services for Laboratory students. The office is located in downtown Los Alamos in Central Park Square near Daylight Donuts. Employees requiring Ombuds assistance can call the office at 5-2837 or can drop in during normal Laboratory business hours. The Ombuds Web site is
http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/ombuds online.
Lopez holds a doctoratal degree in organizational development and master's degrees in communications and public relations. She also holds several professional certifications, including mediation. Her work history includes experience in the Laboratory's Ombuds Office, and she has worked in accordance with the Ombudsman Association's Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. She joined the Laboratory in 1999 and has held numerous positions in a variety of organizations.
