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DON ADR Course Catalogue Available!
Please
download our August 2007 DON ADR Program Office Course Catalogue to learn
how the DON ADR Program can work with your command.
Learn About ADR - Try Our Online Introduction to
ADR
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Real Comments by Real People About ADR
Employees & managers give the ADR Program a lot of positive comments. These
are real comments from real mediation participants:
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KNOW YOUR ALTERNATIVES…
… to workplace conflict! The Department of the Navy offers a variety of “alternative
dispute resolution” (ADR) techniques that employees and managers can
use to turn unproductive conflicts into meaningful resolutions. Did you know:
- In FY07 the DON had a 77% resolution rate over 500 workplace cases that used various
forms of ADR?
- 89% of participants would use mediation again?
The DON’s policy is to use ADR to resolve conflict “to the maximum extent
practicable.” (SECNAVINST
5800.13A) Click on the links below to learn more about:
Or just visit the DON ADR Program Office at www.adr.navy.mil.
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Add this ADR information box
to your website
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ADR News
COMMANDER OF NAVSEA ENCOURAGES THE USE OF ADR
In a recent All Hands Message to the Naval Sea Systems Command, VADM Paul Sullivan
wrote,
“In 1999, the Navy developed the ADR program, designed to increase informal
resolution of workplace grievances. It was also designed to enhance team building
and communication between managers and employees. Navy wide, in 2007 we achieved
a 77 percent resolution rate for the 500 workplace cases that entered the ADR process.
Our employees and managers at NAVSEA also participate in ADR. This is extremely
important to us because workplace conflicts can sometimes be complex, and can drain
focus and energy from the work we need to do. I look upon resolution, especially
the resolution that involves both parties developing a newfound respect for each
other, as a force multiplier. In my view, ADR is a way to build a stronger NAVSEA.
I congratulate our entire NAVSEA workforce for participation in ADR during 2007
and ask that we consider ADR to be a valuable and effective tool in resolving workplace
conflicts. I think it is VERY important to get disputes resolved quickly, move on
with dignity, and keep us working as a team. I offer to you that a 77 percent success
rate is pretty good odds. If you are in a tough situation, give it a try, please.
The DON ADR Program appreciates VADM Sullivan’s message, and encourages ALL
commands in the DON, not just NAVSEA, to use ADR “to the maximum extent.”
See SECNAVINST 5800.13A.
OMBUDSMAN FOR RESERVISTS AND THEIR CIVILIAN EMPLOYERS
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERA) defines employment
rights of reservists and National Guard Members. Trained volunteers and the Ombudsmen
Services national staff are available to promptly respond to inquiries and conflicts
presented by employees or employers. To learn more, visit their website. Notably, more than 95 percent of all such requests
for assistance are resolved in this informal process.
ADR FOR NSPS
The DON has an ADR process for
use when employees request reconsideration of their rating of record.
DON POLICY PERMITTING BINDING ARBITRATION FOR CONTRACT DISPUTES
The Administrative Dispute Resolution Act and the Federal Acquisition Regulation
(FAR) permit the use of binding arbitration, but only after the head of the agency
issues appropriate guidance. On March 5, 2007, the Secretary of the Navy signed
SECNAVINST 5800.15, "Binding Arbitration
for Contract Controversies."
This policy grants authority to contracting officers to use binding arbitration
as a creative, less costly option to resolve issues in controversy that arise under
its procurement contracts and contracts involving non-appropriated fund instrumentalities.
The policy promotes "ad hoc arbitration," and is entirely voluntary. The
goal is to resolve disputes more quickly than the procedures found in the Contract
Disputes Act.
DON AGENCY-LEVEL ACQUISITION DISPUTE MEDIATION
The DON ADR Program Office now offers another, less formal ADR option to consider:
Agency Mediation.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND MEDIATION MODEL (“CM3”)
What’s that newest effort in DON Workplace ADR? It’s CM3.
Learn what it is, and how HROs can have an effective workplace ADR system
to help managers and employees accomplish the mission of the DON.
REVISED DON ADR POLICY ISSUED
A new Secretary of the Navy Instruction (SECNAVINST
5800.13A, "Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Policy and Mission of the DON
ADR Program Office, "22 Dec 2005.") was signed on December
22, 2005. The new instruction retains the basic DON ADR policy to use ADR to the
maximum extent practicable. It also provides additional guidance on confidentiality,
the use of ADR agreements, and binding arbitration. It also:
- Defines the mission of the DON ADR Program Office.
- Requires shore commands at the Echelon I and II levels to appoint an Activity Dispute
Resolution Specialist (ADRS)
- Eliminates the requirement of implementing instructions
- Requires coordination of ADR initiatives with the DON ADR Program.
Commands seeking further information, and details on the role of the ADRS should
send an
email
to the program.
BROCHURE FOR FACILITATION SERVICES
Trained meeting facilitators are available through the ADR Coordinators at your
HRSC. See our
brochure!
DON-USIECR PARTNERSHIP - GET ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIATION OR FACILITATION FAST
The United States Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution (USIECR), a small
federal agency, helps other federal agencies and interested parties resolve environmental,
natural resource and public lands conflicts. The DON successfully used the institute's
services in the past (see
AnacostiaMediation.doc
), and the DON ADR Program is please to announce a new interagency agreement that
will allow Navy and Marine Corps activities to get a high quality mediator or facilitator
FAST. The agreement also provides training and case assessment services. Since DON
ADR Program has partially FUNDED the agreement, the institute can get to work on
your project immediately!