MG325 Employment Relations

MG325 Employment Relations

Course Outline 2012

Objective / The objective of this course is to present an introductory foundation to the areas of employment relations and human resource management. Focusing on the human aspect of business, the course explores the nature of the relationship between employee and employer and looks at how that relationship is managed on a day-to-day basis.
The course will give a broad-based overview of contemporary Irish employment relations highlighting some of the key actors, institutions and processes involved. The second part of the course focuses on the management of human resources and some of the core issues and practices associated with managing people in organisations.
Lecturer / Name / Office / Ext / E-mail
DrDeirdre Curran / Room 324,
St. Anthony’s / 2521 /
Times / Day / Time / Venue
Lectures: / Wed / 12-2 / ENG3035
Overall Learning Outcomes / Upon completion of this course, if you engage with the learning opportunity, you will be able to:
  • Describe the key features of the employment relationship
  • Explain the role of the principle actors shaping the employment relationship
  • Evaluate how key processes are used to regulate the employment relationship
  • Explain how conflict is managed
  • Describe in detail at least one piece of Irish employment law
  • Discuss the importance of employee voice
  • Describe the nature of the Human Resource Management function of the business
  • Define and describe two of the principle activities of a typical human resource management department

Format / The course comprises 1 X 2 hour lecture weekly
Programme(s) / Final year Corporate Law, Diploma in Business Studies
Course Material / A course web is available at

MG325 Employment Relations

Course Outline 2012

Objective / The objective of this course is to present an introductory foundation to the areas of employment relations and human resource management. Focusing on the human aspect of business, the course explores the nature of the relationship between employee and employer, and looks at how that relationship is managed on a day-to-day basis.
The first part of the course will give a broad-based overview of contemporary Irish employment relations highlighting some of the key actors, institutions and processes involved. The second part of the course focuses on the management of human resources and some of the core issues and practices associated with managing people in organisations.
Lecturer / Name / Office / Ext / E-mail
DrDeirdre Curran / Room 324,
St. Anthony’s / 2521 /
Times / Day / Time / Venue
Lectures: / Wed / 2-3 / Kirwan lecture theatre
Thurs / 4-5 / O’Flaherty lecture theatre
Overall Learning Outcomes / Upon completion of this course, if you engage with the learning opportunity, you will be able to:
  • Describe the key features of the employment relationship
  • Explainthe role of the principle actors shaping the employment relationship
  • Evaluate how key processes are used to regulate the employment relationship
  • Explain how conflict is managed
  • Describe in detail at least one piece of Irish employment law
  • Discussthe importance of employee voice
  • Describe the nature of the Human Resource Management function of the business
  • Define and describe two of the principle activities of a typical human resource management department

Format / The course comprises 2 x 1 hour lectures weekly
Programme(s) / 2BComm + Guests
Course Material / A course web is available at
RecommendedTextbooks / Wallace, J., Gunnigle, P. and Mc Mahon, G., (2004), Industrial Relations in Ireland, 3rd Edition, Gill & MacMillan.
Gunnigle, P., Heraty, N. & Morley, M. (2006), Human Resource Management in Ireland, 3rd Edition, Gill & Macmillan: Dublin
Rollinson, D. & Dundon, T. (2007), Understanding Employment Relations, McGraw Hill, London.
Blyton, P. & Turnbull, P., (2004)The Dynamics of Employee Relations, 3e, MacMillan Press
Noon, M. & Blyton, P. (2007) The realities of work, 3e, MacMillan Press
Note: Students will need regular access to at least one of these core texts during the course. Multiple copies are available in the library
Useful Web-Sites / Authority
Congress of Trade Unions
Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union
Irish Business and Employers Confederation
Times
relations News
Court
Relations Commission
Appeals Tribunal
Workplace Relations Commission
The weekly publication Industrial Relations News (IRN) is available in the library and on-line while on campus. It is an invaluable source of up-to-date news on the state of Irish employment relations as are the national newspapers. For the on-line version go to
Username = NUI Galway Password = secure2
The easiest way to access IRN is through the NUIG Library
Homepage
Assessment / End of Year Examination100%
This course will be assessed through a two-hour summer exam. Details of the exam format will be provided during the semester.
Workload hours / Credit weighting:5 ECT
Lecture hours:24
Independent study:99
Examination: 2
Total Student Effort: 125
Student Feedback / I encourage students to provide informal feedback on this course as it proceeds and I am always happy to discuss learning issues. There will be an opportunity to complete a short evaluation questionnaire halfway through the course. Your feedback will be taken into account in how I develop & deliver this course.

Topic

/

Readings

Topic 1: (Weeks 1 & 2)
Introduction to Employment Relations
  • Overview of course
  • What is employment relations?
  • Why is it important?
  • Why do people work?
  • Context of employment relations in Ireland
  • Key processes
  • Frames of reference
/ Wallace et al. (2004) Chapter 1
Rollinson & Dundon (2007) Chapter 1
Blyton & Turnbull (2004) Chapter 1
Noon & Blyton (2007) Chapter 3
Topic 2: (Week 3)
The role of trade unions & employer associations
  • Ideology
  • Purpose and function
  • Growth and decline
  • Structure and strategy
/ Wallace et al. (2004) Chapters 5
Gunnigle et al. (2006) Chapter 11
Rollinson & Dundon (2007) Chapter 4
Blyton & Turnbull (2004) Chapter 5
Noon & Blyton (2007) Chapter 11
Topic 3: (Week 4)
Conflict and dispute resolution
  • The nature of conflict
  • The process of dispute resolution
  • Industrial action
  • 3rd parties for dispute resolution
/ Wallace et al. (2004) Chapters 7
Gunnigle et al. (2006) Chapter 13
Blyton & Turnbull (2004) Chapter 10
Topic 4: (Weeks 5 & 6)
Employment rights
  • Purpose of the law
  • Range of employment rights
  • Unfair dismissal as an example
  • Employment Equality as an example
  • What happens if your rights are breached?
/ Wallace et al. (2004) Chapter 2
Gunnigle et al. (2006) Chapter 14
Topic 5: (Week 7)
Employee voice at work
  • Should employees have a voice?
  • Its all about power & control
  • Depth, scope, level etc.
  • Mechanisms for employee voice
  • The Information and Consultation Act, 2006
  • The impact of the law
/ Wallace et al. (2004) Chapter 11
Rollinson & Dundon (2007) Chapter 8
Blyton & Turnbull (2004) Chapter 8
Topic 6: (Weeks 8 & 9)
Human Resource Management
  • What is HRM?
  • Why is it important?
  • HRM goals & objectives
  • Contribution of HR to the business
  • The functions of the HR department
  • HRM in practice
/ Gunnigle et al. (2006) Chapters 1 &2
Topic 7: (Week 10)
HR function: Employee Resourcing
  • What is employee resourcing important?
  • Stages involved
  • Common pitfalls
  • Employee resourcing practice in Ireland
/ Gunnigle et al. (2006) Chapter 5
Topic 8: (Week 11)
HR function: Training & Development
  • Nature & meaning of T&D
  • Changes in the world of work
  • Implications for T&D
  • Process of learning
  • Outcomes of learning
  • Creating the learning organisation
/ Gunnigle et al. (2006) Chapters 9 & 10

Curran 2013| MG325 | Employment Relations1