A Day in the life of an Organizational Ombuds

When disputes arise within an organization, the first thought might not be to escalate issues. That hesitation is expensive, costing time, money, trust and engagement. If only organizational leaders knew there was a unique solution!

Hello Ombuds—a role that many business leaders either are unaware of or overlook, but one that is crucial to organizational harmony and the bottom line.

What’s an Ombuds, and Why Should You Care?

Let’s take care of the elephant in the room.? How do you say Ombuds?? Such a difficult job for such a peace-loving profession.? Say Ahm- buds.? Or Ombuddy, if it’s easier.

An ombuds? is a conflict management expert who is key to early dispute resolution: identifying and resolving conflicts before they spiral out of control. Ombuds originated in the 1800 in Sweden as a tool to increase accountability and problem-solving. The role has evolved into an important part of the? alternative dispute resolution (ADR) landscape. Ombuds address a wide range of issues, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and that processes are fair. That’s critical because today’s employees want to be in an organization that is trustworthy and cares about their well-being.

The Bottom Line: How Ombuds Programs Save You Money

Think of an Ombuds as an investment. Organizations that embrace ombuds programs see significant savings. Consider this: effective EDR (early dispute resolution) saves money and time, which is more valuable. Additionally, these programs focus on job satisfaction, employee experience and engagement, which translates to a lower turnover rate and higher productivity. On a scale of 1-10, for each unit of happiness added, employees were 12% more productive according to Management Science.? Happy teams lead to more growth.

It might be hard to imagine how the Ombuds get all this done. So, why don’t we take a peek into a day in the life of an outsourced organizational Ombuds. You might have heard the term fractional to describe an expert who works part-time for an organization.? Outsourced means the same.

A Glimpse into an Ombudsman’s Daily Routine

An Ombuds’ day is filled with variety.? An outsourced Ombuds is likely to have more than one client at a time. Each client has a different vibe or organizational personality, which keeps things interesting.?

Each visitor, that’s what people who utilize the Ombuds are called,? brings unique challenges, and each situation demands a tailored approach.There’s no cookie-cutter approach.? However, Ombuds do adhere to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice promulgated by the International Ombuds Association. As Ombuds, we agree to uphold the four principles: confidentiality, impartiality, informality and independence.

Take a closer look at how a busy Ombuds with a book of business navigates their day, juggling multiple clients and industries.

After a quick breakfast, our Ombuds, Olly, dives into email to see what the schedule is like for the day.? Four retainer clients are on the calendar.

The day begins with a private practice. Today, Ollie is meeting with the the dentist for a quarterly update on trends and issues. Then, facilitates a discussion between two team members over their understanding of insurance policies. The goal? To promote fairness and respect in the?workplace, ensuring that both parties feel heard and respected and office gossip ceases.

Next, Olly opens an email from an affiliated practice. Olly steps in to guide a team member through the process of asking for an accommodation and how to have a conversation with her regional manager about it. The goal? To assist the member to find and apply the right policy for leave and the best framework for the discussion.

Olly takes a break for lunch and a brief walk. Remote Ombuds often work from home.

Back at the computer, the focus shifts to a tech company facing issues related to workplace culture and diversity. Olly takes a zoom meeting? with a female engineer who is convinced that her male colleagues have a bet on who can force her out first. The conversation allows her to vent her negative feelings then begin to explore the situation and her options without worrying about consequences.

Just as the day ends, Olly jumps on a phone call with an association committee member.? She feels embarrassed that another member criticized her efforts in a? public meeting, but doesn’t want to go to executive director.? Olly shares a creative option that enables the visitor to share her thoughts and boundaries without a confrontational meeting.

What a day! Ombuds draw on a mixture of skills- from mediation to? negotiation skills to emotional intelligence to rapport-building and more- throughout the day to get the best outcome possible for visitors and their organizations.

Ombuds may work behind the scenes, but their impact is felt throughout the entire organization. By investing in an early dispute management system like Ombuds, organizations save significant costs, improve employee morale, and contribute to a healthier, more efficient work environment. It’s time for organizations across sectors to recognize the value of ombuds programs and consider integrating them into their operations.

How can an Ombuds help you retain key staff and build loyalty? Reach out for a chat.

Dina Lynch Eisenberg Esq, CO-OP

Your Ombuddy

E: [email protected]

W: HappyPracticeConsulting.com launches Oct 1st