An organizational ombuds is an individual who serves as a neutral party representative within an organization who provides conflict resolution and problem-solving services to members of the organization (internal ombuds) and/or for clients or customers of the organization (external ombuds).
Ombuds are increasingly being used in the area of arbitration. See this article in the Journal of the International Ombudsman Association and this Marquette Law Review article - Justification for Creating an Ombudsman Privilege in Today's Society.
See also: Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs - OFCCP Ombuds Service and SEC - Ombuds for examples of ombuds programs.
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]