Appropriate to conduct a mediation session

 Lee has been working at TechIQ for years. She really enjoys her work as an IT specialist and enjoys providing her clients with expert IT solutions. Over the last months, a few new employees have started working at TechIQ, including a new employee named James. Since his first day, James got along very well with Lee. They always take their lunch breaks together and eventually James starting texting Lee to ask her to go on a date with him. After Lee realised that James was getting the wrong impression of their relationship, she made it very clear that she was married, and their relationship was purely work-related. James didn’t seem to care and continued to ask Lee to go out with him on a date. Lee kept texting back no, as she was married and was just interested in keeping a work-related relationship. It has now been ongoing for some time and Lee is feeling more affected by the situation as James is now leaving her flowers at work and telling other colleagues that they are dating. On advice from her husband, Lee talks about the situation to a colleague (Tom) who suggests he would be happy to have a mediation session between Lee and James to ensure James is “crystal clear” that his behaviour is not appropriate. Lee is not sure how to deal with this and has asked HR for advice.

Outline what rights Lee has in this situation with regards to James’s behaviour. Is It appropriate to conduct a mediation session between Lee and James? Justify your decision. As HR, what advice would you give to Lee regarding the situation? (worth up to 12.5 marks).