ON THE HORIZON – ONLINE MEDIATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
The Impact of Covid-19 on Mediation
In the aftermath of Covid-19, Online Mediation offers a solution that is convenient, secure and affordable.
The Covid-19 Pandemic was a nightmare for the World we live in. Thanks to modern technology, developed long before Covid was even a part of our vocabulary, the business world was able to weather a prolonged lockdown.
Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and a host of other online-video conferencing platforms effectively changed the way we do business. For those of us who work in the Divorce and Family Mediation field, these platforms changed the way we resolved disputes during lockdown.
In the face of country lockdowns, second waves of infection, renewed surges and the fear of accidental exposure to a potentially deadly virus, more and more people began to opt for online mediation (or virtual mediation as it is also commonly known) rather than attend long drawn out face-to-face mediation sessions.
The Advantages of Online Mediation
So what are the Advantages of Online Mediation as compared to the more traditional mediation process? There are numerous advantages to attending an Online Mediation with a suitably qualified online mediator, these include:
FLEXIBILITY ON TIME. Mediation caan take place outside normal office hours. As long as there is a computer, an internet connection, and a willingness to mediate, the online mediation can take place at the convenience of the Parties and Mediator.
RELAXEDNESS ON ENVIRONMENT. Parties are able to mediate in the comfort and privacy of their own home. Having said that, the comfort of remaining in a familiar environment however far outweighs any of the stress associated with having to go to a stranger’s boardroom to “face” the other side.
SPEED OF PROCESS. Online Mediation is a far more focused process and this ultimately translates to a saving of time and money. At its heart, mediation, whether online or face-to-face, remains a process aimed at (i) helping parties identify areas of common ground and move toward resolution ; (ii) assist the parties to remain curios about the conflict from the other party’s perspective.
DISPUTING PARTIES DONT NEED TO MEET FACE-TO-FACE. Face to face physical encounters can be stressful. Particularly where the Parties may have been in a relationship with one another. Online Mediation allows parties to properly “see” each other without having to be in the same environment.
THERE ARE NO GEOGRAPHICAL RESTRAINTS. Parties’ can choose who to approach to assist them with the mediation of their matter. This does not have to be limited to the area of their residence or work. On proviso that a Mediator is prepared to do the online mediation, that person can be appointed irrespective of where they may reside.
THE PROCESS IS FLEXIBLE. Parties who are in a face-to-face mediation can transform their mediation to an online mediation and vice versa. Should parties in an online session need to meet with the mediator separately, this can also be easily achieved via the use of separate zoom breakaway rooms.