digitaldiscipline ◾ ◾ Uncomfortable Work Situation

[C&P from Sil, with minor tweaks for parsing and add'l info]

angel_renewed and I have been tasked with creating modules on the new conflict resolution system being rolled out here. While I am a big fan of conflict resolution (and mediation) as a means to diffuse workplace stress, I am highly uncomfortable with the what's going on here.

Essentially, its telling employees that they must give up their rights to resolve conflicts in court if they wish to continue to be employed by this company. To wit:

(note: The program is called "Solutions")

The Company has adopted Solutions as the exclusive means of resolving workplace conflicts. This means the Company and all employees who accept or continue employment with the Company agree to resolve all legal claims against the Company or an employee through Solutions rather than through court. (emphasis mine)

Doing some research, she found that the Supreme Court has actually upheld this kind of intimidation in the past. We also discovered that such workplace 'arbitration' overwhelmingly favors the employers and that the 'neutral' arbiters are frequently ignorant of the law - in some cases they have *no* legal background.

Luckily, as a contractor this does not directly affect Sil. It does, however, affect me, since I'm technically a Seasonal Employee of the company. I feel dirty writing this crap into training.

I'm wondering a) how to broach the subject in a manner to management, b) include an appropriate level of subversive "educate yourselves about what arbitration means for you" into the training material without setting off management klaxons, and c) whether or not I'm qualified to pursue a career as a plumber (seriously, the Roto-Rooter guy was -that- compelling an evangelist for the job when he came out on Sunday).

This policy has made me uncomfortable enough that I'm seriously contemplating resigning over it, if I can line something else up that I can start right after CG2.