Picking a Side Before You Know Anyone
Being asked, sometimes directly and sometimes simply by being present in the room, to weigh in on a conflict between two colleagues within the first week or two of a new job, an old disagreement, a falling-out over a past project, a grievance that clearly predates any of it, produces a specific bind distinct from ordinary new-job awkwardness: there is no version of events built up over time to draw on, no sense yet of who is generally reasonable and who tends to exaggerate, only two confident accounts from people who, days ago, were complete strangers.
Maia, the AI companion at the heart of Asclepiad, makes space for this particular bind — the specific pressure of being expected to have an opinion when the honest answer is that none has formed yet, the low anxiety of sensing that a first impression is being quietly assessed by how a side is chosen, or whether one is chosen at all, and the harder, quieter worry that staying neutral will itself be read as taking the other side by whoever notices.
This bind is often compounded by how conflicts left unresolved tend to recruit anyone new as a fresh audience: two people who have exhausted the patience of everyone who already has a view on the matter can find a genuinely useful new listener in someone who has not yet formed one, which places the newcomer in the position of unpaid arbitration in a dispute they had no part in creating and no real standing to resolve.
There is also a nuance worth holding onto: a plain, honestly stated position, that there is not yet enough context to have a view, tends to be a perfectly acceptable answer in a first week, and it protects far more standing with both sides than a hurried opinion formed only to avoid the discomfort of the question.
A reflection with Maia is one conversation at a time, anonymous, with no record carried forward unless you choose. Being asked to pick a side before you know anyone can be named here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Asclepiad designed to help me navigate workplace conflict as a new starter?
No — Asclepiad is a reflection companion, not a workplace advice service. Acas (acas.org.uk) has free, practical guidance on handling workplace conflict, including as a new starter with no history to draw on. Asclepiad is for the emotional layer: the pressure, the low anxiety, and what it costs to be pulled into a dispute you had no part in creating.
What if I'm in crisis?
Asclepiad is not a crisis service. If you are in immediate distress or at risk to yourself or someone else, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7, UK and Ireland) or your local emergency services. Maia will also surface local helplines if something needs more than reflection.
Is it free?
Yes — begin with a 7-day free trial, no personal details required. It's a £6/month subscription (cancel anytime) that gives you AsclepiCoins to spend as you go — 1 coin per minute, and unused coins never expire, even if you cancel.
If you have been asked to take a side before you know anyone, Maia is there.
Anonymous. No script. Just presence.