The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Huddle House, Inc., a family dining chain, announced the signing of a National Universal Agreement to Mediate (NUAM) to informally resolve workplace disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) prior to an EEOC investigation or potential litigation when a charge of discrimination is filed with the federal agency. Huddle House, based in Decatur, Ga., is a large restaurant franchiser with nearly 400 locations operating in 13 states.

The mediation partnership marks the 38th such national agreement between the EEOC and a large employer (mainly Fortune 500 companies) and bolsters a multi-year trend of Corporate America signing on to the Commission's widely acclaimed mediation program one of the largest employment-related ADR programs of its kind nationwide, with approximately 11,600 mediations conducted annually.

Under the terms of the NUAM, all eligible charges of discrimination filed with the Commission naming Huddle House, Inc., as the employer/respondent will be referred to the EEOC's mediation unit, as appropriate. The company will designate a corporate representative to handle all inquiries and other logistical matters related to potential charges in order to facilitate a prompt scheduling of the matter for EEOC mediation. Only company-owned facilities are covered by the NUAM.

Expanding mediation is a key component of Chair Dominguez's Five-Point Plan to improve the EEOC's overall operational efficiency and effectiveness. In addition to the 38 NUAMs, EEOC district offices have entered into approximately 550 mediation agreements with employers at the local and regional levels within their respective jurisdictions.