Face Saving --- "Face" refers to one's image, both to oneself and to others.  A face-saving approach is an approach that does not damage one's own or the other side's image. It does not make oneself or the other side appear weak, inept, or otherwise as a failure, but makes them look like they are wise and victorious, even when they are not. By allowing all disputants to save face, a negotiated settlement is much more likely to be reached. [See also Golden Bridge.]

Facilitation -- A collaborative process used to help parties discuss issues, identify and achieve goals and complete tasks in a mutually-satisfactory manner. This process uses an impartial third party, the facilitator, who focuses on the processes and procedures of dispute resolution and decision-making. The facilitator is impartial to the issues being discussed, rarely contributes substantive ideas and has no decision-making authority.

Facilitative Mediation -- The mediator directs or guides the process of the mediation but does not 'evaluate' its outcome or advise the parties on a course of action to resolve their dispute. [see also,  Evaluative  and  Transformative  ]

Facilitator -- An impartial leader / organiser of a meeting who provides structure and leadership to keep all participants on track and helps to focus parties on goals and objectives.

Fact-based disputes --- Fact-based disputes are disputes about what has occurred or is occurring. Such disputes can be generated from misunderstandings or inaccurate rumors (when someone is accused of doing something they did not actually do.) Facts-based disputes can also be generated by differing perceptions or judgements about what has occurred or is now occurring. For example, a dispute over the level of threat caused by the ozone hole or the greenhouse effect is a "facts-based dispute," even though all the scientific facts are not readily discernable or agreed by everyone involved.

Fact Finding Expert --- Independent expert appointed by agreement of the parties to investigate and report to them on all or any specified issues of fact and/or opinion in dispute between them, ether to assist them in reaching a settlement by and ADR process or, as may be agreed, to determine those issued for the purposes of any on-going litigation or arbitration.

Family Mediation --- Family mediation typically is used for divorce matters such as custody issues, child support and visitation plans, however as the popularity of mediation has grown so has the realm of family mediation. Disputes evolving from the aging of parents and their extended families, distribution of family items following the death of a parent, issues resulting from family owned business and sibling alienation are just a few of the categories that Family Mediators are finding to be a growing market.

Family Mediator --- A family mediator is trained not only in the main principles and psychologies of mediation, but also should have extended training (often including a legal degree or background) in the complex issues surrounding family conflict. Often Family Mediators employ the use of Collaborative Divorce as it includes more professionals to aid children, extended family, financial issues, and the often serious emotional matters that follow the dissolution of a marriage.

Featherbedding --- Controversial practices which tend to limit productivity and create an increased demand for workers, such as demanding payment for work no longer performed by workers because of automation or robotification.

Fiduciary obligation --- The obligation or trust imposed by law on officials of an organization making them liable for the proper use and disbursement of the organization's money, funds and property. As applied to a pension fund trustee or a union officer, the duty to act exclusively for the benefit of the plan participants, or union members, respectively.

Force --- The term "force" in dispute resolution refers to any situation when one disputant is made to do something against their will through threat.

Forcing Power Shortcuts --- Forcing Power Shortcuts are ways to measure relative power without having a protracted (and destructive) power struggle.

Frames --- Frames are ways of defining a problem. Some people may define a problem in terms of rights, while others may define it in terms of interests or relative power. These different positions are sometimes referred to as different "frames."

Framing --- Framing is the process of defining what a problem is about. Just as a frame can be placed around a photograph, including some portions of the picture, but cropping other portions out, people can define some aspects of a problem as important, while they ignore (or are unaware of) other issues that do not concern them. [See also Reframing.]

Free Riders --- A term used by unions to designate non-members within the bargaining unit who obtain, without cost, the benefits of a contract gained through the efforts of the dues--paying members. [ see also B  "Bargaining Unit"]

Front pay --- A remedy sometimes awarded by the courts to victims of discrimination where it is impractical to order reinstatement. A front pay award leaves the incumbent in place and orders the employer to pay the discriminate an amount equivalent to what it is reasonable to estimate he or she would otherwise have earned in future employment.

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