Employment Relations

Module overview

Employment Relations is a module studying different facets of the employment relationship from a social, political, economic, legal, and psychological perspective. Having as its starting point the UK labour market and employment relations (ER) system, it examines the main actors in ER, the structures and role of employee voice, conflict at work, pay and working time outcomes, etc.; in other words, it examines concepts and topics related to the structure, process, and outcomes of employment relations. It also examines cross-national, comparative variation in ER systems, aiming to instil to students an appreciation of the economic and institutional context that constrains and enables the behaviour of the main actors of the employment relationship. The module requires students to reflect critically on theory and empirical evidence, thus gaining a deeper understanding of the different facets of, and concepts related to, the employment relationship.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

the role of the economic and institutional context in framing the ER system;
the main actors in ER;
the significance of conflict at work and its management;
the relevant theories related to ER and its subject matter;
the outcomes of ER, such as pay, working time, and productivity, and how these are determined.
the basic structures and realities of the UK ER system;

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

understand and critically evaluate the wider context within which ER are located.
critically evaluate the relevance and strength of different theories and empirical evidence related to ER;

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

develop critical evaluation skills, using competing perspectives in constructing arguments;
develop analytical skills by linking theoretical perspectives to contemporary work and employment realities;
appreciate the role and significance of qualitative and quantitative evidence in assessing ideas and arguments;
plan work, work independently, and write coherently and critically.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered via the following teaching and learning methods: •34 hours of lectures (three per week over ten weeks; two per week over two weeks). One hour each week will be devoted to seminar-like activities, group work, and coursework guidance. •Directed readings and formative assessments will be given throughout the module.

Study time
Type	Hours
Wider reading or practice	20
Lecture	34
Revision	10
Assessment tasks	32
Preparation for scheduled sessions	5
Follow-up work	49
Total study time	150

Assessment

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

In-class activities

Assessment Type: Formative
Feedback:
Final Assessment:
Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Individual Coursework	100%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Individual Coursework	100%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Individual Coursework	100%