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The course unit overview is that of the study of relations between employers and workers in a range of sectors, settings and societies. 

Here, focus is placed on exploring contemporary industrial relations, focusing on different actors within the employment relationship including workers, unions, employers and the state. The nature of work and how it has changed, how work and employment are regulated and the approach management take towards their workforces are core themes within the module. Much of the focus will be on industrial relations in Britain; however, this is situated within an internationalised political economy with some reference made to international regulatory actors, multinational companies and some comparison with industrial relations in other national contexts. The course content is broadly based, with the study of industrial relations drawing on contributions from a variety of academic disciplines (including sociology, law, political science and others) and from empirical research studies. The main purpose of the course is to give students an understanding of the key issues and tensions which arise in industrial/employment relations. For example, that of the roles, power and relative influence of the main parties, the processes of job regulation and control, pay determination, the extent and forms of state intervention, worker/ employee representation, conflict at work, the impact on work of technological change and the green transition, as well as developments in the gig economy (e.g. precarious work, migrant labour).

BMAN72391 Programme Req: BMAN72391 is only available as a core unit to students on MSc HRM & IR and as an elective to students on MSc IHRM & CIR

The course unit aims to give students an understanding of the key issues and tensions which can arise in employment relations, and the nature, objectives and methods adopted by the various parties seeking to influence the nature of those relations (e.g. government, employers, management, trade unions and employees).

• Changes in labour market structure and regulation 
• Theoretical frameworks used in industrial relations
• Industrial relations actors: state, employers and trade unions
• Industrial relations practices: collective bargaining and strikes
• Precarious work and migrant labour
• Future of Work - technology and the green transition

20 hours of lectures (10 lectures of 2 hours each)

10 hours of interactive lectures (introduction of new material followed by critical/interactive analysis and discussion by students)

20% of the course might be subject to asynchronously delivery dependent on guest speaker availability specifically on the interactive lecture component on the unit (week 2, week 5 and week 7).

• Identify the factors which shape the nature and content of the employment relationship, e.g. Management strategies; HRM policies and practices; government policies; trade union activities; economic and labour market conditions.
• Appraise the nature, objectives and methods adopted by the industrial relation actors in attempting to influence job regulation

 

 

• Critically assess and integrate analytical frameworks, research findings and managerial choices, policies and practice in the analysis of social phenomena
• Analyse and critically assess current trends in labour, management and industrial relations

• Provide advice about good industrial relations practice in the workplace; applying theoretical knowledge to real life examples based on case study scenarios
• Use library, electronic and online resources

• Work effectively in individuating industrial relations problems in real life
• Demonstrate ability to independently gather, sift, synthesise and organise material from various sources (including library, electronic and online resources), and to critically evaluate its significance.

Group presentation 30%
Individual essay 70%

Within 15 working days

Core texts

Bingham, C. (2016) Employment Relations: Fairness and Trust in the Workplace. London: Sage.

Dundon, T and Rollinson, D (2011) Understanding Employment Relations, McGraw-Hill Education, 2nd edition. (Text book introducing key elements of subject).

Colling, T. and Terry, M. (eds.) (2010) Industrial Relations: Theory and Practice, Wiley-Blackwell, 3rd edition. (edited collection of specialist chapters).

Dundon, T, Cullinane, N and Wilkinson, A (2017), A Very Short, Fairly Interesting and Reasonably Cheap Book About Employment Relations, Sage.

Frege, C. and Kelly, J. (eds.) (2020) Comparative Employment Relations in the Global Economy. Routledge (2nd edition)

Williams, S. (2020) Introducing Employment Relations: A critical approach. Oxford University Press.

Informal Contact Methods

Office hours

Online Learning Activities (blogs, discussions, self-assessment questions)

Drop in Surgeries (extra help sessions for stuents on material they may be struggling with).

Course co-ordinator available to talk to students at the end of each session