Workplace disputes don’t resolve themselves; they require the right approach and the skills to manage them effectively and fairly. Designed for HR professionals and workplace practitioners, this online course builds foundational skills for identifying and responding to workplace disputes, with a focus on practical, real-world applications.

Learn core concepts in workplace mediation and arbitration, including when each approach is appropriate, how to prepare, key ethical and confidentiality considerations and how to build durable agreements. You’ll also explore investigations and grievance handling as resolution pathways, with an emphasis on procedural fairness, documentation quality and stakeholder management.

In a capstone project, you’ll integrate concepts to develop a comprehensive resolution plan that outlines the appropriate process, key participants, preparation steps and communication strategy. This course prepares you to manage workplace conflict with confidence while reducing organizational risk and supporting fair, effective outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate workplace disputes and select appropriate resolution pathways (e.g., informal resolution, mediation, arbitration, investigation, or grievance) based on risk, complexity and context
• Apply core principles of mediation and arbitration, including preparation, confidentiality, standards and effective participation strategies
• Conduct and assess workplace investigations and grievance processes using principles of procedural fairness, appropriate scope and high-quality documentation
• Develop effective and durable resolution agreements and communication strategies, including clear settlement terms, implementation planning, stakeholder management and conflict-sensitive communication
• Integrate dispute-resolution concepts into a comprehensive resolution plan, identifying processes, roles (HR, legal, neutrals), preparation steps and strategies to prevent recurring conflict

Skills You Will Gain

• Dispute-resolution process selection
• Mediation and arbitration preparation
• Workplace investigations and grievance handling
• Conflict communication and stakeholder management

Who Should Enroll in this Course

The primary audience is working HR professionals and workplace practitioners, including managers and employee relations partners—who need foundational competence in identifying and responding to workplace legal issues. The program is not designed for attorneys or as preparation for legal practice, and it does not equip participants to provide legal advice or substitute for consultation with qualified counsel.

Course Format and Pacing

This is an online remote learning course delivered through UC Davis CPE’s learning management system, Canvas.