Employment Relations: Current Issues and Controversies (BS0192)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : MSE-3-ERCIC

The aim of the course is to build upon students' existing knowledge of the subject. The course will begin by considering the different theoretical approaches to understanding employment relations. It will then consider some contemporary issues in depth, for example, ageism, employment policy and the labour market, flexible working, workplace health and safety. The overarching theme of the course will be the interplay between the "collectivisation" and "individualisation" of employment relations in the UK and its reflection in a number of policy initiatives.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Managing Employment Relations (BS0188) or Organisation Studies (BS0189)

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Business Studies, (Management School and Economics, Schedule H)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	09:00	10:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course, students should be able to:

(a) demonstrate a deep awareness and understanding of the key issues and controversies associated with employment relations in the UK, including the problematic relations between the workplace and wider society;

(b) discuss critically the role of current UK State policy initiatives in seeking to influence employment relations, as well as certain past forces which have influenced that policy;

(c) critically assess the objectives, rationales, uses and limitations of managerial policies in their influence upon employment relations;

(d) discuss critically the role of the unions in contemporary enterprises, and society more generally, having regard for some past forces;

(e) discuss critically the significance of non-union workplaces for the State, employers, employees and the unions;

(f) assess the relative significance of 'European' vis ` vis 'American' influences on the State's policies, the development of the law, the nature of management-union relationships, and the situation of employees;

(g) speculate upon longer term economic and social consequences of current trends, and the policy options implied.