Peer Review... 
 

 

 

 

 


 
Peer Review Dispute Resolution
In any work environment, complaints, problems, disputes and grievances inevitably arise. Traditionally, two methods have been used to achieve resolution: Open Door Policy and Third Party Intervention. Neither approach has proven particularly effective in constructively resolving employee complaints.
 Peer Review is an Alternative Dispute Resolution System provided by Caras & Associates, Inc. It utilizes a fair and just process for resolving day-to-day workplace disagreements. Peer Review promotes trust, understanding, fairness, and consistency. The essence of Peer Review is its provision that as a final step, when previous problem solving efforts have proven fruitless, the individual's complaint is heard and resolved by a panel consisting of members of management and the employee's peers who make a final and binding decision. The unique aspect of Peer Review is that the number of peer panelists always exceeds the number of management representatives.
 

Benefits

- Employee perception of fairness is assured through a peer majority on the panel.
- Trained panelists have proven responsible and concerned - concerned both for the grievant and for the business.
- Individuals who have taken disputes to the Peer Review have expressed satisfaction with the process - even when they lose.
- Managers have discovered that their fears about "losing the right to manage the business" have proven unfounded - decision made by peer panelists parallel those made by managers alone. Further, built-in controls on the panel's jurisdiction insure appropriate management interests.
- Companies have seen how the process fits well with their other Employee Involvement Programs.                                                                                                                                                   - Charges and lawsuits have been dramatically reduced by implementing Peer Review.



Peer Review. The open, honest and appropriate process for dispute resolution in well-managed organizations.
 

Installation

A Peer Review Installation involves three components:

- A Management Overview
- An Implementation Package of Consultation and Resources.
- Training of Panelists and Facilitators.                                                                                              - Ongoing support to insure long term success.


 

Management Overview

The Management Overview is a formal presentation to the senior management team designed to provide complete information about the Peer Review system. Major components of the Overview include:

- Administrative review of the organization's current dispute resolution systems.
- One-on-One or small group meetings with key line and staff managers.
- Senior management Peer Review briefing.
- Strategy session to discuss specific implementation alternatives and develop a formal action plan.
 

Implementation Package

Our Implementation Package used by hundreds of clients, large and small, has been carefully developed to provide all of the elements necessary for the success of your Peer Review system.

Our experienced personnel work with an Implementation Team of 20-25 or your employees, supervisors, managers, and H.R. staff. This ensures employee support for and ownership of your Peer Review system



1. On-Site Consultation
 
We provide on-site consulting days with the Implementation Team and Management to accomplish the following:

- Train the Implementation Team to be Peer Review panelists.
- Develop Peer Review Policy and administration procedures which fit well with the organization's structure and culture.
- Design an effective communication plan to insure employee understanding, support, and acceptance of Peer Review.
- Implement a Measurement and Monitoring program to assure that the Peer Review system meets it goals and objectives.
- Manage the overall implementation of the Peer Review system.
- Insure that management rights and interests are protected in the system.
 
2. Resources
 
The total experience of our consultants and our many successful implementations is available through on-site consultation and through the following other resources:

- Unlimited telephone consultation during and after implementation to assist with challenging cases.

- A 600-plus Implementation Manual filled with successful policies, communications, surveys, materials and panel facilitation guidelines.

- Panelist Workbooks used to train panelists

- Facilitator Guides with step by step instructions for handling Peer Review cases.

- Videos and CD's designed to enhance the process.
 

 
Training Workshops

 Panelist Training
 
The one-day Peer Review Panelist Workshop is designed to fully prepare and certify employee volunteers to serve as panel members in the Peer Review process. Designed for 20 participants, the workshop meets the following objectives:

- To teach skills required to effectively serve as a panelist.
- To explain legal, moral and ethical responsibilities of panelists.
- To impart guidelines, obligations and limitations under which panelists much conduct themselves.
- To show total management concern for consistency, fairness, and effective grievance resolution.
- To build mutual trust between panelists and management.
 
Facilitator Training

Whether done individually or in a group workshop, we provide the knowledge and skills necessary for the facilitation of Peer Panel hearings. Information covered in the training includes:

- Planning and scheduling panel hearings.
- Conducting appellant and management testimony.
- Providing additional witnesses and information for the panel.
- Conducting the vote.
- Writing the answer letter.
- Developing and communicating Learning Points.
- Providing feedback to the appellant and management.

 

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Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) systems and Peer Review Dispute Resolution. All Rights Reserved.

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