The Ombuds Team: An Independent and Confidential Resource for Staff at Common Cause

Confidential. Independent. Informal. Impartial.

The term “ombuds” (pronounced “ahm–buhds”) comes from a Swedish term meaning “a person who has an ear to the people.”

Common Cause has two ombuds (Bathabile Mthombeni and Michael Stephens, see bios below) who are available to work with staff to surface and resolve work-related issues. The ombuds are an independent, impartial, confidential, and informal resource for Common Cause staff. The ombuds team supplements and does not replace Common Cause’s formal administrative channels at Common Cause or talking with your manager.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the ombuds function:

1. What does an ombuds do?
2. What does an ombuds not do?
3. Who can use the ombuds team service?
4. What types of concerns are brought to the ombuds team?
5. What happens when you contact the ombuds team?
6. What might I gain by contacting the ombuds team?
7. What authority does the ombuds team have?
8. What happens to information provided to the ombuds team?
9. Should I contact the ombuds team to give notice to Common Cause?
10. How does the ombuds team remain neutral?
11. Will the ombuds team participate in formal meetings?
12. How is the ombuds team unique and different than other resources at Common Cause?
13. Are there some things that will not be kept confidential?
14. Will the ombuds team talk to my attorney or testify for me or for the company if I choose to file a grievance or lawsuit?
15. Can the user of the ombuds team services remain anonymous?
16. What if my question is not listed here?

About the Ombuds Team at Common Cause:

Common Cause staff should contact one of the ombuds below to discuss your concerns and options for resolution.

Bathabile Mthombeni (pronounced “Bah-tah-bah-lay”) (bathabile-ombuds@mwi.org and 802- 753-0899) is an experienced ombuds, mediator, consultant, and coach. She discovered the thrill of Alternative Dispute Resolution as a law student in 2004. In 2006, she accepted her first ombuds position and has been the University Ombudsman for Binghamton University since 2015. She also provides leadership coaching, facilitation, and racial intelligence and racial mindset coaching, training, and dialogue facilitation services to leadership teams and DEIB committees. In addition to her ombuds and other work, Bathabile is a skilled teacher and workshop facilitator and provides DEIB policy development and implementation services to schools and other organizations. She has taught classes in negotiation, ombuds practice, and conflict management and dispute resolution at Binghamton University, Columbia University, and John Jay College. Bathabile earned her A.B. in Sociology, cum laude from Princeton University, her J.D. from Columbia Law School, and her coaching certificate and M.S. in Leadership and Organizational Development from the Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. She takes great joy in her work and finds her greatest satisfaction when she is helping her ombuds visitors and clients learn how to communicate better, resolve their differences, and find the highest expression of their best selves. Book a time to talk with Bathabile by sending an email to bathabile-ombuds@mwi.org or calling 802-753-0899.

Michael Stephens (michael-ombuds@mwi.org and 413-341-6977) is an experienced ombuds, mediator and coach with the goal of helping foster good working relations and a more positive culture in the organizations he serves. Michael is a member of the International Ombudsman Association, and has significant experience as an ombuds in both both corporate and academic settings. Michael has a certification in Mediation from the Mediation Training Institute. Michael worked for many years as an Ombuds, as well as the manager of other Ombuds, at Merck, a multi-national pharmaceutical company. Prior to that he had many years of experience in Human Resources roles at Merck and several other companies. After retiring from Merck, he has served as ombuds for Amherst College as well as Smith College. Michael is also an experienced facilitator and workshop leader, specializing in communications skills, conflict resolution and change management. He has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Colorado and a Masters in Business Administration from New York University. Book a time to talk with Michael by sending an email to michael-ombuds@mwi.org or calling 413-341-6977.

Contact

• Email: Email either ombuds at the email addresses provided above.
• Confidential web form:  If you have a concern at work and would like to raise it in confidence, please feel free to fill out the web form below.
• Phone: 802-753-0899 (Bathabile) or 413-341-6977 (Michael) (direct and confidential phone and voicemail).

The Common Cause Ombuds Team was established under a charter approved by the President of Common Cause. A copy of that charter is available here. The charter incorporates by reference the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the International Ombuds Association (IOA) and requires that the Common Cause Ombuds Team adhere to the IOA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. The charter, as well as the IOA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, contain important information about the Common Cause Ombuds Team and the manner in which it functions.

Due to the independent, impartial, informal, and confidential nature of the ombuds function, communication with the ombuds does not constitute formal notice to Common Cause.