D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 6, r. 6-B1635

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Rule 6-B1635 - MEDIATION

1635.1

Mediation shall be initiated by the grievant executing and presenting the grievance official with a mediation agreement, pursuant to § 1630.2. The mediation agreement shall be a standard agreement form issued by the personnel authority. The agreement shall, at a minimum:

(a) Explain the nature of the mediation process;

(b) Explain the respective roles the parties;

(c) Explain the confidential and privileged nature of mediation communications, consistent with D.C. Official Code §§ 16-4203 and 16-4207; and

(d) Explain the potential remedies that are available, consistent with § 1636.

1635.2

The grievance official shall forward a copy of the agreement to the personnel authority. Within five (5) business days, the personnel authority shall designate an individual to serve as a mediator and the agency head, or his or her designee, shall designate an appropriate agency official to serve as the agency representative. The mediator shall either be an attorney licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia or an individual trained in conducting mediation. The agency representative shall have sufficient authority to mediate the dispute.

1635.3

The mediator shall schedule the mediation date(s) and conduct the mediation proceedings in such a manner as to ensure a fair and equitable result. However, the mediation process must be concluded within thirty (30) days from the date the mediator was designated by the personnel authority. If mediation has not concluded within that time period, the matter shall be returned to the grievance official for the first level of review.

1635.4

The parties may agree to any remedies permitted under § 1636. If an amicable resolution of the grievance is reached through mediation, the terms of the resolution shall be reduced to writing in a Mediation Settlement Agreement and signed by all parties, including the mediator. The written resolution shall be binding on all parties and is not subject to review by any administrative body, court or other tribunal.

1635.5

If the parties are unable to resolve the grievance through the mediation process, the grievance shall be returned to the grievance official to resume the first level grievance review. Grievances shall be returned to the grievance official by the mediator on either the date the mediator determines that no resolution can be reached or thirty (30) days from the date the mediator was designated by the personnel authority, whichever is earlier.

1635.6

If a grievance is returned to the grievance official pursuant to § 1635.5, the grievance official shall proceed with the first level grievance review pursuant § 1630.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 6, r. 6-B1635

As amended by Final Rulemaking published at 47 DCR 7094 (September 1, 2000); and as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 7951 (August 13, 2004); Amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 1265 (2/5/2016)