Once a case is accepted, the employee is asked to provide a briefing and copies of relevant materials to a balanced subcommittee of the Council in an extensive intake interview. Based on the information from that interview, the Council representatives brief the entire Council and a plan for assessment of the case is determined.

Also, after the case is accepted, the Council members learn the employee’s identity as it cannot investigate and engage in meaningful mediation without that information. However, every precaution is taken to disclose the employee’s name only when necessary to gain relevant information. Discussions and correspondence with the Council are confidential. Documents that are provided to the Council during the case but are also available from other sources are not considered confidential, but the Council will not provide them to anyone, unless compelled by a judge under extraordinary circumstances.