In this case, the mediator could step in and assist the two parties in communicating their concerns with each other by acting as a facilitator of communication between the two parties. While the employee is concerned with safety, the supervisor was initially concerned with the overall cost of buying new tools or equipment. Part of the supervisor's job is to control costs in their work area, and the tools that would have to be replaced are very expensive. However, the supervisor did not know the details concerning how the existing tools were unsafe, and the employee had not successfully explained the nature of the problem in the initial grievance. The mediator helps each party communicate with the other about their concerns—they help the supervisor relay their concern for cost controls while also providing the employee with assistance in identifying the specific problem with the tools that makes them unsafe. The result might be that both parties successfully communicate their concerns, but the supervisor realizes that the issue of safety is much more significant than the issue of cost, and therefore agrees to buy the new tools that the employee has requested. If the conflict cannot be resolved by mediation, an arbitrator may be used as a follow-up. An arbitrator is a neutral third party who resolves a conflict by making a binding decision. Many business contracts require the use of an arbitrator rather than seeking relief by way of the court system. An arbitrator basically acts like a judge in a civil hearing. Thearbitrator will hear arguments from both parties in a conflict, may ask questions of each of the parties in order to clarify issues, and then make a decision on which party will "win" the case The most significant difference between mediation and arbitration is that the result of an arbitration process is binding on the parties who are in conflict. Mediation, on the other hand, is merely a process to assist the parties in coming to an agreement on their own. The mediator has no authority to impose a solution on the i. • .. in conflict. Be.: • • • -nce, the use of arbit o d be kept to a minimum, because it is not a collaborative process.