Year
2023Credit points
10Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unitPrerequisites
HRMG200 Applied Human Resource Management OR HRMG207 Introduction to Human Resource Management
Incompatible
PERS302 - Employment Relations
Teaching organisation
3 hours per week for twelve weeks or equivalent.Unit rationale, description and aim
The effective management of employment relations is an important factor in achieving successful organisational outcomes. To be a skilled employment relations practitioner, students will need to understand theories, legal frameworks and contemporary approaches to managing the interactions between stakeholders in the employment relations system. In this unit, students will explore employment relations by engaging with fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, ethical practice and social responsibility. Students will apply their knowledge of employment relations to the causes and management of disputes, interpreting legal frameworks, advocacy and negotiation, wage and salary fixation strategies and the practical applications of policies and procedures in contemporary organisations. Students will develop skills in the analysis, design and implementation of solutions to employment relations problems.
The aim of this unit is to enhance student knowledge of employment relations theory and practices and to develop their understanding of the processes and skills necessary to effectively design, implement and manage effective employment relations activities and processes.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
LO1 - Critically analyse the different theories, perspectives and debates on employment relations and the role of organisational and institutional stakeholders (GA4, GA5)
LO2 - Analyse the major legal frameworks that govern employment relations in Australia (GA5, GA8)
LO3 - Critically evaluate how employment relations impacts on the economic and social context nationally and globally (GA5, GA6)
LO4 - Develop employment relations strategies and practices that respects human rights, contribute to good working conditions and sustainable organisational outcomes by applying responsible problem solving skills (GA2, GA5)
LO5 - Apply effective written and oral communication skills in the context of employment relations (GA5, GA9)
Graduate attributes
GA2 - Recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society
GA4 - Think critically and reflectively
GA5 - Demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession
GA6 - Solve problems in a variety of settings taking local and international perspectives into account
GA8 - Locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information
GA9 - Demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media
Content
Topics will include:
- Introduction to employment relations
- Theories and Values Driving Employment Relations: Pluralist, Unitarist and Radical
- The International Context of ER: Different approaches to ER in national contexts
- Parties Involved in the Employment Relationship: Unions, Employer Associations and the State
- Employee Participation and Voice
- Arbitration and Awards:
- Elements of rulemaking / labour contracts / enterprise agreements / negotiations
- Conflict in the Employment Relationship: Types of conflict / Theories / IR conflict in Australia
- Role of FWC in disputes / Mediation
- Managing Diversity, Equity and Discrimination
- Workplace Health and Safety: Legislation / emerging issues / workers compensation
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Blended mode
This unit takes an active learning approach to guide students in the development of knowledge associated with employment relations. Students can explore the knowledge base underpinning employment relations in a series of on campus workshops. These workshops are designed to support students to actively participate in the development of this knowledge both individually and in groups. By participating in these workshops, students will systematically develop their understanding of the critical aspects of employment relations and how to design solutions to employment relations problems. This unit takes an experiential approach to support students in developing the skills required to effectively manage employment by sharing stories and insights and reflecting on experiences. This approach is designed to interest students who prefer to learn within a social environment and builds in expert support for skills development.
ACU Online
This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of knowledge essential to the discipline. Students are provided with choice and variety in how they learn. Students are encouraged to contribute to asynchronous weekly discussions. Active learning opportunities provide students with opportunities to practice and apply their learning in situations similar to their future professions. Activities encourage students to bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding, application and engage constructively with their peers. Students receive regular and timely feedback on their learning, which includes information on their progress.
Assessment strategy and rationale
In order to pass this unit, students are required to complete and submit three graded assessment tasks and achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50%. Marking will be in accordance with a rubric specifically developed to measure their level of achievement of the learning outcomes for each item of assessment. Students will also be awarded a final grade which signifies their overall achievement in the Unit. The assessment strategy for this Unit allows students to sequentially develop their knowledge and skills of employment relations and legal frameworks to the point where they can develop a responsible solution to resolve a contentious employment relations issue. To develop this level of capability, students will demonstrate their knowledge of employment relations in a structured research report, further develop their understanding by participating in a simulated workplace negotiation and then apply their knowledge and understanding to analyse a contentious employment relations case and provide a recommendation in the final assessment task.
Overview of assessments
Blended mode;
Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes | Graduate Attributes |
---|---|---|---|
Assessment Task 1: Analytical Report: This assessment task requires students to produce a 1200-word report in which they identify and evaluate legal employment relations frameworks, theories and contexts. It requires students to reflect on employment relations discussed in weeks 1-6 and link to situations through analysis of literature, readings and class discussions and make recommendations for improvement with strong justifications. Submission Type: Individual Assessment Method: Analytical Report Artefact: Written Report | 20% | LO1, LO2 | GA4, GA5, GA8 |
Assessment Task 2: Simulated workplace negotiation This assessment task consists of a 10 minute simulated workplace negotiation supported by a script utilising the knowledge gained in this unit to apply their critical thinking skills to resolve a workplace problem taking local and international perspectives into account. Submission Type: Group Assessment Method: Presentation with script Artefact: Oral/Visual Media Presentation | 40% | LO2, LO3 | GA5, GA6, GA8 |
Assessment Task 3: Reflective Analysis This assessment task, consists of an 1800-word reflective analysis. Students are required to apply and integrate the concepts, models and theories from this unit to develop and present a recommendation on an employment relations issue. This recommendation will be based on your understanding of the difference between theory and reality in your experience considering application of the common good and ethics in an employment relations example Submission Type: Individual Assessment Method: Reflective Analysis Artefact: Written paper | 40% | LO1, LO4, LO5 | GA2, GA5, GA9 |
Online
Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes | Graduate Attributes |
---|---|---|---|
Assessment Task 1: Analytical Report This assessment task requires students to produce a 1200-word report in which they identify and evaluate legal employment relations frameworks, theories, and contexts. It requires students to reflect on employment relations discussed early in the unit and link to situations through analysis of literature, readings and class discussions and make recommendations for improvement with strong justifications. Submission Type: Individual Assessment Method: Analytical Report Artefact: Written Report | 20% | LO1, LO2 | GA4, GA5, GA8 |
Assessment Task 2: Simulated workplace negotiation This assessment task consists of a 10-minute Video simulated workplace negotiation strategy supported by 5 PPs utilising the knowledge gained in this unit to apply their critical thinking skills to resolve a workplace problem related to job security, working conditions, employee bargaining, organisational performance and taking local and international perspectives into account. Submission Type: Individual Assessment Method: Presentation Artefact: Video/PP | 40% | LO2, LO3 | GA5, GA6, GA8 |
Assessment Task 3: Reflective Analysis This assessment task, consists of an 1800-word reflective analysis. Students are required to apply and integrate the concepts, models, and theories from this unit to develop and present a recommendation on an employment relations issue. This recommendation will be based on your understanding of the difference between theory and reality in your experience considering application of the workers’ rights, ethics, and the common good in an employment relations example. Submission Type: Individual Assessment Method: Reflective Analysis Artefact: Written paper | 40% | LO1, LO4, LO5 | GA2, GA5, GA9 |
Representative texts and references
Ainsworth, S., & Knox, A. (2022). “A bridge too far?” Ideas, employment relations and policy‐making about the future of work. Industrial Relations (Berkeley), 61(1), 68–89. https://doi.org/10.1111/irel.12295
Alexandra, V., Ehrhart, K. H., & Randel, A. E. (2021). Cultural intelligence, perceived inclusion, and cultural diversity in workgroups. Personality and Individual Differences, 168, 110285–. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110285
Behrens, M., Colvin, A. J. S., Dorigatti, L., & Pekarek, A. H. (2020). Systems for Conflict Resolution in Comparative Perspective. Industrial & Labor Relations Review, 73(2), 312–344. https://doi.org/10.1177/0019793919870800
Fair Work Act 2009 and Regulations Amendments https://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/legislation
Fair Work Commission: https://www.fwc.gov.au/about-us/legislation-and-regulations
Fells, R., Caspersz, D., & Leighton, C. 2018. The encouragement of bargaining in good faith – A behavioural approach. Journal of Industrial Relations, 60(2), 266-281.
Jhamb, S., & Carlson. K.W. (2020). Managing Workplace Ethical Dilemmas, Perceptual Ethical Leadership, Accountability, and Management Outcomes: A Critical Review and Future Directions. The Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 22(9), 53–67.
KPMG. 2020. Reinventing work: The future-focused workplace Reinventing Work: The future-focused workplace (assets.kpmg)
Kaufman, B.E., Barry, M., Wilkinson, A., Lomas, G., & Gomez, R. (2021). Using unitarist, pluralist, and radical frames to map the cross-section distribution of employment relations across workplaces: A four-country empirical investigation of patterns and determinants. Journal of Industrial Relations, 63(2), 204–234. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022185620977578
Lansbury, R. (2021). Workplace reform: a new social contract for Australia. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 59(4), 541–553. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7941.12287
Markey, R. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 virus on industrial relations. Journal of Australian Political Economy, (85), 147–154. https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/INFORMIT.213328906561584
Peetz, D. (2021). Is industrial relations reform the road to recovery in monopsonistic labour markets? The Economic and Labour Relations Review : ELRR, 32(3), 417–436. https://doi.org/10.1177/10353046211015786
Sachdev, A., Nivedha D.S., & Chinmae D. (2021). Impact of Diversity and Inclusion on the Future of Work. NHRD Network Journal, 14(3), 303–31 https://doi.org/10.1177/26314541211030576
Shaw, A., McPhail, R., and Ressia, S., 2018. Employment Relations, 2nd edition. South Melbourne, Cengage Publishing.
Stewart, A., 2018. Stewart’s Guide to Employment Law, 6th edn. Annandale, Federation Press
Van Gramberg, B., Teicher, J., Bamber, G. J., & Cooper, B. (2020). Employee Voice, Intention to Quit, and Conflict Resolution: Evidence from Australia. Industrial & Labor Relations Review, 73(2), 393–410. https://doi.org/10.1177/0019793919876643
Journals
The Journal of Industrial Relations