Employment and Workplace Relations

Unit code: BMO2010 | Study level: Undergraduate
Credit points
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
City Campus
India Online
Online Real Time
VU Online
Prerequisites
BMO2009 - Managing People
(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Overview
Enquire

Overview

Explore the power struggle between the state, employer and employee to determine Australian wages and employment conditions, in the Employment and Workplace Relations unit.

In this unit, you will learn the history of workplace negotiations, and come to understand the economic implications. This knowledge will provide context for studying the relationships between contributing parties (management, employees, trade unions, employer groups, governments, and tribunals) and employment outcomes.

Topics include:

  • Employment Relations (ER) in Australia
  • role of trade unions, management and the state in negotiations
  • relevant legislation, including Equal Opportunity, Discrimination, Anti-bullying and WorkCover.

Your learning will be practical and relevant, preparing you for future professional situations via:

  • simulated real-world scenarios
  • case studies of Fair Work and Federal Court decisions
  • practical examinations of the Fair Work Act via investigations into real industrial disputes and decisions of the Fair Work Commission.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Elucidate the major Employment Relations (ER) functions and the key influences impacting employee/employer behaviour and underpinning factors;
  2. Critically analyse and evaluate key processes of ER at the workplace level and their relationships to organisations;
  3. Investigate a range of ER approaches, evaluate the benefits of each of their appropriate implementation; and,
  4. Analyse and evaluate case studies, current ER trends and their impact on the parties, processes and rules of Australian ER.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Review
|
Grade: 15%
Critical review of a journal article specific to a current ER practice issue
Assessment type: Research Paper
|
Grade: 25%
Research paper- addressing a major ER issue and its impact on specific industry
Assessment type: Presentation
|
Grade: 40%
Identifying an organisation and drafting a strategy for negotiation of EA (group presentation 30% and individual peer critique 10%) (Group)
Assessment type: Case Study
|
Grade: 20%
Case study (x2) and lead discussion in class for one of the Case studies

Other locations

For students studying at India Online
Assessment type: Review
|
Grade: 30%
Review and analysis of a current ER issue
Assessment type: Case Study
|
Grade: 30%
Understanding different perspectives
Assessment type: Research Paper
|
Grade: 40%
Workplace relations within human resources

Required reading

Students will have access to required readings via VU Collaborate and are not required to purchase the listed textbook.

Employment Relations: Theory and Practice
Bray, M, Waring, P & Cooper, R (2018)| McGraw Hill, NSW

As part of a course

This unit is not compulsory for any specific course. Depending on the course you study, this unit may be taken as an elective.

Search for units, majors & minors