module specification

BL7106 - Employment Law and Practice (2024/25)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2024/25
Module title Employment Law and Practice
Module level Masters (07)
Credit rating for module 20
School Guildhall School of Business and Law
Total study hours 200
 
155 hours Guided independent study
45 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
Coursework 75%   Case study (25%) 1000 words + Essay on Individual Employment Law (50%) 2500 words
Coursework 25%   Essay (25%) on Collective Labour Law 1500 Words *FC*
Running in 2024/25

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
Period Campus Day Time Module Leader
Spring semester North Wednesday Evening
Autumn semester North Wednesday Evening

Module summary

This module will enable students to critically analyse contemporary employment law issues, keep abreast of legal developments and appreciate the practical implications of employment law disputes.

Assessment: The module is assessed by 100% coursework. It consists of two pieces of written coursework weighted 75% and 25%.

This module aims to provide learners with an understanding of this complex area of law and of the importance of law and legal developments in the employment field. It will enable learners to keep abreast of legal developments and to critically analyse the law and evaluate the implications for employment practice.

The assessment strategy is designed to assess legal knowledge and enhance learners’ understanding of the practical implications, thereby enabling students to appreciate appropriate responses and issues relating to presenting and settling employment law cases.

The module covers the CIPD module Employment Law.

Prior learning requirements

There are no pre- or co- requisites for the module. Available for Study Abroad? NO

Module aims

This module aims to provide learners with an understanding of this complex area of law and of the importance of law and legal developments in the employment field. It will enable learners to keep abreast of legal developments and to critically analyse the law and evaluate the implications for employment practice.

The assessment strategy is designed to assess legal knowledge and enhance learners understanding of the practical implications, thereby enabling students to appreciate appropriate responses and issues relating to presenting and settling employment law cases.

The module covers the CIPD module Employment Law.

Syllabus

Indicative content is indicated below and will enable achievement of the learning outcomes.

1. The legal system - statute and common law; civil and criminal law. Sources of Employment Law. Enforcement of the law - role of the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunals; the Court Structure. Role of the State and third-party agencies - Central Arbitration Committee, Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, Equality and Human Rights Commission. The law regulating collective issues - collective bargaining and collective agreements, recognition and de-recognition of trade unions, trade disputes, dismissal during disputes - and the effect of the law on industrial relations.

2. The sources of law - Treaties, Directives, Regulations, Statutes. Analysis of developments in this area. The contractual position of workers, employers and trade unions.

3. The law and the contract of employment - terms of the contract; statutory protection of individual workers - working time, pay, time off, maternity and parental rights and dependency leave. Effect of these rights on employment relations, and implications for work-life balance. Discrimination law - the role of law as it relates to discrimination because of sex or marital status, race, ethnicity or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability, age. Codes of Practice relating to discrimination. Confidential information and intellectual property law: Data Protection Act, references, patents, inventions and copyright. Health and safety at Work: the legal framework - common law and statute; rights and obligations of employers and workers.

5. Termination of employment: breach of contract; statutory rights - unfair dismissal, redundancy, rights relating to the transfer of undertakings. Role of the Employment Tribunal.

6. The practical implications of employment law and appropriate organisational responses to the law and any changes in the legal framework.

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

This module will normally operate in accordance with a weekly programme of three hour sessions. The teaching will involve a mix of lectures and seminars as appropriate.

The lectures will provide the legal framework to underpin the seminar activities. Seminars will consist of debates, role plays, problem solving. They will be student led, with students being required to read material prior to each session. They will be expected to participate in discussions and debates on topical issues with relevant reading loaded on WebLearn.

Students will also be provided with formative tasks/feedback throughout the module including an Employment Tribunal role play and a short question/answer exercise testing their knowledge of individual employment law. These formative tasks will enable students to develop the application of the law and enhance their understanding of the practical implications, thereby enabling students to appreciate appropriate responses and issues relating to presenting and settling employment law cases.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the legal framework relating to employee relations and human resource management and be able to confidently handle and analyse legal materials.

2. Analyse developments in employment law, including international law, and be able to identify appropriate sources to enable them to keep abreast of developments.

3. Identify problems and issues which arise in employee relations and human resource management, and apply the legal principles to those situations.

4. Advise on appropriate legal action to be taken in the workplace.

5. Advise on the preparation, presentation and settling of employment tribunal cases.

6. Identify current legal issues, research those areas and analyse the findings.

Bibliography