The Ombuds Decade in Review

Over the past ten years, the Organizational Ombuds field has advanced considerably and is now much closer to a profession than it was at the turn of the millennium. Here are the top events of the past decade:

1. UCOA and TOA Merge -- In 2005, the University and College Ombuds Association joined The Ombudsman Association to form the International Ombudsman Association, the primary professional body for Organizational Ombuds.

2. Canadian Ombuds Flourish -- The Forum of Canadian Ombuds was established in 2001 and has grown steadily as Ombuds programs of various types are created by government agencies, universities and businesses. FCO joined with the Association of Canadian College and University Ombudsmen (which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008) and IOA for a joint conference in 2009.

3. The Lawyers Weigh In -- The American Bar Association issued revised "Standards for the Establishment and Operation of Ombuds Offices" in 2004, to the profound consternation of practicing Ombuds. Nonetheless, the uninvited advice has been used by many as a tool for persuading policymakers.

4. Federal Ombuds Get Organized -- The Coalition of Federal Ombudsmen held its first all day conference in 2002 and collaborated on the Guide for Federal Employee Ombuds in 2006. COFO has emerged as a robust organization for the growing number of Ombuds working in federal agencies and departments.

5. Leading Organizations Create Programs -- Many prominent businesses and non-profits created Organizational Ombuds programs since 2000, including Coca-Cola, the United Nations, the American Red Cross and dozens of universities.

6. Landmark Offices Close -- On the downside, several institutions shut down their Ombuds offices as the recession deepened in 2008 and 2009. Most notably, the California Institute of Technology closed the office that gave rise to one of the most significant court decisions for the profession.

7. Certification Becomes a Reality -- After nearly a decade of discussion and debate that began with TOA, IOA rolled out a certification program in 2009.

8. Concept Expands Beyond the US -- Although the Organizational Ombuds concept is most prevalent in the United States it has become more accepted in other countries. IOA incorporated 'international' in its title and committed to regular trainings and conferences abroad. The United Nations reorganized its conflict resolution system to include an Organizational Ombuds component; a move that has been followed by other affiliated NGOs including ILO, WIPO and WHO. Many corporations now have Ombuds serving employees internationally.

9. California Caucus Struggles -- The California Caucus of College and University Ombudsmen, the oldest organization of Ombuds and first publisher of a dedicated journal, has seen declining attendance at its annual meeting. As the decade closed, CCCUO was seeking its niche in a changed landscape.

10. A European Association Emerges -- The European Network for Ombudsmen in Higher Education began holding annual meetings in 2002 and has become a leading organization for university Ombuds around the world, not just Europe.

Viewed in the long term, these highlights point the way toward a bright future for Organizational Ombuds. Happy New Year, everyone!

Ombuds News Round Up at Enjoy Mediation

Jeff Thompson publishes Enjoy Mediation, an outstanding blog about mediation, negotiation and ADR, when he is not working as a Detective and a conflict specialist in New York City. Today, he posts an excellent summary of recent news about other Ombuds, including PBS Ombudsman Michael Getler, ESPN Ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer and Victorian Ombudsman George Brouwer, as well as efforts to create Ombuds programs by the UN Security Council and at Lufkin Industries in Texas. (Enjoy Mediation.)

Update: IOA Voids Election Results, Reopens Voting

In an email to members yesterday, the International Ombudsman Association acknowledged problems in its latest board election and asked members to vote again.

As many of you are aware, there have been some concerns voiced on the IOA listserv regarding the most recent election of IOA directors. Although the goal of the Nominations and Elections Committee (NEC) was to improve our election process by making each candidate’s personal statement and responses to questions posed by the Committee available in advance for review and consideration by all voters, it has become increasingly clear to us that such was not the case. Despite our best intentions, votes were cast before all of the candidate information was posted on the IOA website. Because we believe that conducting a fair election requires that all voters have access to the same information regarding the candidates, the Board and the NEC decided to conduct the election again. All of the previous votes have been discarded; we are asking eligible members to vote again for the candidates of their choice. Your prior ballot will not count; you must vote again if you wish to participate in this year’s election.

The committee asked members to review the candidates' information available on the IOA website and to recast their ballot by Friday, January 15, 2010. Results of the election are expected to be announced at the IOA conference in April.

Prior posts: IOA Revises Board Balloting, Calls for Nominations; Balloting Opens for IOA Board of Directors.

Job Posting: World Intellectual Property Organization

The United Nations agency in Geneva is hiring an Ombuds. The four-year position reports to the WIPO Director General and coordinates closely with the UN Ombuds Office. In addition to an advanced degree, applicants should have at least 12 years of relevant experience in a large organization, preferably of an international and multicultural character, and facility in a second UN language. The position is graded P.5 with a net base salary of $83,089-$101,835 (with dependants) or $77,190-$93,680 (without dependants). Deadline for applications is January 20, 2010. (UN Jobs, vacancy announcement P2024.)

Red Cross Issues Second Annual Report

Kevin Jessar, Corporate Ombudsman for the American Red Cross, has released a report summarizing the activities of his office for the year ended June 30, 2009. In the 2008-09 fiscal year, Jessar and his staff were contacted by 555 individuals, a 57% increase from the prior year. Two-thirds of the visitors were external constituents of the Red Cross. The increased caseload is remarkable, given the reduced budget for the office. The data, which is reported according to IOA Uniform Reporting Categories, also indicate that more a majority of the Red Cross Ombuds cases were handled through confidential coaching. (Red Cross Ombuds 2009 Report.)

Related posts: Red Cross Ombuds Publishes Inaugural Report and Announces Cut-Backs; New Ombuds at American Red Cross.

University of Waterloo Ombuds Surveys Visitors

Evalena Matlock-Corley, the Ombuds for the public university in Ontario, is using an online survey to gather feedback from visitors. The Zoomerang survey asks visitors how they learned about the office and their satisfaction with the Ombuds. (U Waterloo Ombuds.)

Camosun's Ombuds Featured in Video

Carter McDonald, the student Ombuds for Camosun College in Victoria, BC, is featured in a video posted to YouTube. Carter is interviewed in his office and explains his role on campus in the four and a half minute video produced by the College's Student Union. Carter was appointed to the position in 2008. (YouTube.)

Related posts: Camosun College Ombuds Fights Firing.