Title of unit/s

Contemporary Developments in Employment Relations

Unit No/s

5DER

Level

5

Credit value

6

Assessment method(s)

Written answers to questions

Learning outcomes:

1      Understand the nature and context of employment relations.

2      Know about employment relations legislation.

3      Understands contemporary developments in employee involvement and participation

4      Know about different forms of conflict behaviour and dispute resolution.

Assessment brief/activity

You are required to provide written responses to each of the following six questions.

Question 1

• Provide a brief analysis of the indeterminacy of employment relations and an assessment of the factors which impact on employment relations. In your analysis, briefly compare and contrast unitarist and pluralist approaches.

Question 2

• Briefly critique the key features of the contract of employment.
• Indentify the main sources of UK and EU employment relations law and include a brief summary of the main developments in individual and employment law.

Question 3

• Provide a brief summary on how you would advise employees on the purpose and scope of statutory trade union recognition.

Question 4

• Clarify the key terms used in employee involvement and participation
•  explain the extent to which they will strengthen employee voice in a union and non-union context.
• Conclude with a brief assessment of the link between employee voice and organisation performance.

Question 5

• Briefly explain the differences between conflict and misbehaviour at work and between official and unofficial industrial action. In your answer, give a brief review of contemporary trends in the type of conflict and industrial sanctions.

Question 6

• Explain what is required to advise, coach and guide line managers in the skills for handling grievance or disputes in the workplace.
• Distinguish between third-party conciliation, mediation and arbitration.

Assessment Criteria

1.1, 1.2, 1.3

2.1, 2.2, 2.3

2.4

3.1, 3.2, 3.3





4.1, 4.2




4.3, 4.4

Evidence to be produced/required

Written answers to each of the six questions of approximately 3,900 words in total (divided appropriately across the questions).

All reference sources should be acknowledged correctly and a bibliography provided where appropriate (these should be excluded from the word count).