SAMPLE UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT TO MEDIATE

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and

(name of employer) enter into this Universal Agreement to Mediate. This
Universal Agreement to Mediate applies to charges of discrimination filed
with the EEOC, or any charge of discrimination filed with a Fair Employment
Practice Agency and then deferred to the EEOC for processing that the EEOC
deems eligible for the mediation program.
As the EEOCs Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mediation Program
provides a method for employer and charging party to come together and
informally resolve their workplace disputes, and as (name of employer) has
an interest in resolving workplace disputes that may arise in a fair and
efficient manner, the EEOC and (name of employer) agree as follows:
1.
All eligible charges of discrimination filed with the EEOC in which
(name of employer) is named as an employer/respondent will be referred to
the EEOCs Mediation Program. This Universal Agreement to Mediate will
operate as a general agreement and is used in lieu of an individual
Agreement to Mediate for all charges of discrimination filed against (name of
employer).
2.
The EEOCs mediation program is a voluntary program. Therefore,
(name of employer) and the charging party have the right to refuse to
mediate any charge of discrimination. If either party rejects mediation, the
charge is ineligible to enter the EEOCs mediation program and will be
forwarded to an enforcement unit for investigation.
3.
Charges of discrimination filed against (name of employer) that would
normally be dismissed under the Commissions Priority Charge Handling
Procedures will not be eligible to enter the EEOCs mediation program.
Charges ineligible for mediation include class and systemic charges or those
filed solely under the Equal Pay Act. EEOC also has the authority to withhold
charges from mediation in cases when it serves the public interest to
investigate the charge.
4.
All inquiries and scheduling of mediations shall be arranged through
(name & title), designated representative for (name of employer) as soon as
practical after the charge is filed and the charging party has agreed to
participate, but in any event no later than 45 days from the date the charge
enters the mediation program. The name, title, address, phone and fax
numbers and email for (name of representative) are (insert contact
information).

5.
All inquiries regarding the EEOCs Mediation Program shall be directed
to the ADR Coordinator in the EEOCs District Office where the charge was
filed.
______________________________________________________
EEOC Representative
______________________________________________________
(name of employer)

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