10. How can the EEOC's mediation program help me resolve a charge of discrimination?

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Mediation is a free, voluntary, informal process for you to resolve disputes with the help of a neutral mediator.

Participation in mediation is not an admission of guilt. The mediator does not decide who is right or wrong or issue a decision. Instead, the mediator helps you and the person who filed the charge develop your own solution.

There are many benefits of mediation:

• It is free.
• It is confidential. Information disclosed in mediation will not be shared with anyone, including EEOC investigators and lawyers, and will not be used against you by EEOC.
• It can save you time and money. Mediation usually occurs early in the charge process, and many mediations are completed in one meeting. If successful, the charge is resolved and you avoid potentially lengthy, uncertain and expensive litigation.
• It allows you to design your own solution. You and the employee determine how to resolve the issue in a mutually acceptable way.

See also:

What should I do if I receive an EEOC charge of discrimination?