As courts are becoming backed up with discrimination cases, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is pushing the expanded use of mediation to resolve bias cases. During mediation the worker and employer meet with a neutral third party to discuss the dispute and seek a resolution. Employers favor mediation because it allows them to save the time and money that is often associated with litigation.
See "Trend Is To Mediate, Not Litigate, Bias Cases", Kirstin Downey, The Washington Post, December 2, 2003