The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

An Evaluation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Mediation Program

EEOC Order No. 9/0900/7632/2

September 20, 2000

By:

Dr. E. Patrick McDermott
Primary Researcher
Franklin P. Perdue School of Business
The Center For Conflict Management
Salisbury State University

Dr. Ruth Obar
Hood College

Dr. Anita Jose
Hood College

Dr. Mollie Bowers
Merrick School of Business
University of Baltimore

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Executive Summary

I. Introduction

II. Literature Review

A. Mediation: Background, Definitions, Uses, and Advantages

B. Justice and Dispute Resolution Program Evaluation

1. Procedural Justice

2. Distributive Justice

C. Empirical Studies of Mediation Programs

III. This Research

IV. Background

A. The EEOC’s Mission

B. The EEOC Case Backlog

C. The EEOC Strategies to Timely Process Charges

1. The Administration of Chairwoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

2. The Administration of Chairman Clarence Thomas

3. The Administration of Chairman Evan J. Kemp, Jr.

4. The Administration of Chairman Gilbert Casellas

5. The Administration of Chairwoman Ida Castro

D. The Evolution of the EEOC Mediation Program

1. The Pilot Program

2. The Mediation Program

3. The Structure of the Present Mediation Program

4. The EEOC Mediators

V. Research Methodology

A. Sampling Plan and Response Rate

B. Data Collection Procedures

C. The Participant Satisfaction Survey

D. Pilot Study

E. Data Analytical Techniques

VI. Results

A. Profile of the Sample

1. Characteristic of the Participants: Company Size

2. Nature of the Participant Charges

3. Characteristics of the Mediation Session

B. Participant Feedback Regarding the Mediation

1. Procedural Elements and Mediation

2. Distributive Elements and Mediation

C. The Influence of Other Variables on Participant Satisfaction

1. Participant Responses and Company Size

2. Participant Responses and the Nature of the Charges

3. Participant Responses and the Characteristics of the Mediation Session

4. Participant Responses Based on Satisfaction with Mediation Results

5. Summary of Section C

D. Would the Parties Use the Program Again?

VII. Key Comparisons to Prior Employment Mediation Research

VIII. Conclusions and Implications

Exhibits (will be posted shortly)

Appendices (will be posted shortly)

This page was last modified on October 2, 2000.

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