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Employment Law

Module description

When working relationships break down it can have serious financial and societal implications. Due to this the law has evolved to develop the discipline of employment law which has a vital role to play in the UK.

This module will introduce you to the legal regulation of working relationships. We will focus particularly upon the creation, regulation and termination of the employment relationship, the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees, anti-discrimination, and the role of modern trade unions.

We will consider these issues in their wider political, historical, and socio-economic context. You will also get the opportunity to present your own arguments for law reform in an assessed presentation. You will develop a critical perspective of the law and you will be trained to apply the law to factual situations.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. identify, explain and critically analyse issues arising in the context of working relationships and apply relevant legal rules to those issues
• 2. handle a variety of materials particular to this area of law from a variety of sources such as case-law, domestic and international legal frameworks and statutory Codes of Practice

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of a range of legal concepts, values, principles, institutions and procedures, and the ability to explain the relationships among them, as well as their limits
• 4. select and explain relevant information from primary and secondary legal resources, independently and efficiently using appropriate techniques
• 5. demonstrate ability to select, integrate and present coherently and reflectively relevant law and legal or theoretical arguments

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. identify, retrieve and use a range of resources with minimal guidance
• 7. demonstrate ability to keep up-to-date regarding developments in a fast-moving area of law and politics
• 8. demonstrate ability to work independently and to manage time efficiently in preparing for scheduled learning activities and assessments

Syllabus plan

Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:

• An introduction to employment law including its judicial and administrative structure, sources and materials
• The contract of employment and the personal scope of employment law
• Issues surrounding termination of contract and breach of contract
• Unfair dismissal law and its remedies
• Discrimination law
• Other employment rights
• The role of trade unions in modern industrial relations
• The relationship between unions and members

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Re-assessment will be in accordance with the University’s policies.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Please ensure you read the most up-to-date version of any text.

H Collins, K Ewing, A McColgan, Labour Law (CUP 2019)

ACL Davies, Employment Law (Pearson 2015)

S Deakin and G Morris, Labour Law (Hart Publishing 2011)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Key words search

Employment Law