Restorative Justice ..

Find out more about Restorative Justice across the following areas:

Restorative Justice Works

  • Independent expert analysis finds RJ would benefit society by over £1billion read more.

  • RJC/Victim Support proposal for victims of serious crime would save £185 million read more.

  • RJC summary of Ministry Justice research into restorative justice read more.

Restorative Justice in Action

Ray and Vi Donovan met the young man who murdered their son Christopher. Hear their story.

Case Studies
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In the Workplace

Restorative approaches in the workplace deal with conflict creatively, building stronger teams.

When conflict happens and/or people are hurt by inappropriate behaviour at work, relationships are broken and teams suffer.

Restorative practice has been used for several years in a range of very different workplace settings with success, allowing teams and individuals to work well together.

Restorative practice in workplaces:

  • brings together all those affected by conflict in the workplace
  • allows participants to come to a shared understanding
  • provides a safe environment for the expression of emotion
  • provides opportunities to rebuild damaged relationships
  • rebuilds working relationships and strengthens teams
  • processes can be used proactively or reactively
  • can be used within existing discipline and grievance systems

What has restorative practice got to offer that other processes like Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and workplace mediation do not? Both ADR and workplace mediation generally have a fairly narrow focus on a particular conflict and its resolution.

Restorative practice has a wider focus and benefits as it aims to build better relationships and stronger community, and to find creative ways to deal with conflict that repair the emotional harm and allow everyone involved to find a postiive way forward.

Fair process is a central theme in the use of restorative practice in the workplace in that "we are most likely to cooperate or trust in systems, whether we ourselves win or lose, if the process is fair."  There needs to be a heavy emphasis upon the importance of good processes, rather than a preoccupation with outcomes alone.


 

LEGAL NOTE:
In order to encourage early resolution of workplace disputes, the Employment Act 2008 allows employment tribunals to have regard to the ‘ACAS Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievance’( see below) in deciding the majority of employment claims. This document covers the informal resolution of such matters using mediation and restorative practice. Tribunals will be able to adjust compensation by up to 25 per cent to reflect a party’s unreasonable failure to follow the code.

See further reading below and also 'Resources'.

20th Dec 2010 | RJC Magazine - Resolution, fair process, Conflict

Further Reading about Restorative Justice