Employment Law
| Module title | Employment Law |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEMM046 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Mr Stephen Taylor (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 5 | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
This module is essential for anyone who is planning to develop a career in HRM in the UK or in another country with a similar legal system. We will be taking a very practical approach, explaining the purposes of employment law, the way it is made and enforced, and how managers should act in the workplace so as to ensure compliance and to reduce the risks associated with litigation from existing and former employees.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The purpose of the module is to provide you with the knowledge and understanding to give timely and accurate advice to managers about HR decisions they are taking which have potential legal consequences. It will also enable you to take responsibility for the management of cases in your organisation, to negotiate settlements to tribunal claims, to develop HR policies which comply with employment law and to run training sessions on the central employer obligations associated with employment law.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Meet the core standards within the CIPD profession Map for Employment Law
- 2. demonstrate that you are able to give good, basic advice about workplace issues which are potentially affected by employment law
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. explain how employment law affects HR practice in the UK
- 4. critique the extent and nature of employment regulation from different perspectives
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. develop and express strong, original and well-justified arguments to support your views
- 6. give accurate and timely advice to colleagues and managers about salient organisational issues
Syllabus plan
Over 15 two-hour sessions you will be introduced to the most significant employment statutes, to the common law and to the case law covering employment matters. We will also be looking at how employment law has evolved historically, what it seeks to achieve, how it is made and how it is enforced. Sessions will include lectures as well as extensive group exercises focusing on real cases and their outcomes.
The fifteen sessions will cover the following major topics:
- An introduction to employment law
- Accessing employment rights
- Discrimination law
- Dismissal law
- The law of contract
- Health and safety law
- Collective employment law
- Hours and wages
- Family-friendly employment law
You will need to undertake preparatory guided reading associated with each of these areas of study before attending your taught sessions.
This module will take 150 hours, comprising 30 contact hours and 120 hours of guided study / test and assignment preparation. You will undertake a variety of different learning activities while studying this module including lectures, discussion exercises, supplementary reading and online activities.
You will be encouraged to relate your own experiences and developments in organisations you have worked for to your studies and to share these with fellow students.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 120 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 30 | Lectures and group analysis of cases |
| Preparatory Reading | 30 | Reading prior to taught sessions |
| Assignment Preparation | 60 | Reading, research and/or observation of a tribunal case |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion exercises | 30 minutes each week | 1, 2, 5 & 6 | Tutor feedback |
| Observing a tribunal case | 6 hours | 3 & 4 | Tutor feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment (Tribunal Report or critical assessment of an area of employment law) or three short article or a case study | 50 | 2,500 words (approx) | 1 - 6 | Written tutor feedback |
| Multiple choice exam | 50 | 1 hour | 1-2 | Verbal feedback in person |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Assignment (50%) | 1 - 6 | July |
| Multiple choice exam | Test (50%) | 1-2 | July |
Re-assessment notes
Students who fail their assignments will need to resubmit another assignment either on the same subject or another.
NB. Students who take this module while studying towards an MSc or PgDip HRM will also participate in a mock employment tribunal exercise which is assessed as part of the compulsory HR Skills (BEMM048) module.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Core texts:
- Lewis, D. & Sargeant, M. (2023) Essentials of Employment Law, Sixteenth Edition, CIPD
- Lockton, D & Broen, T. (2020) Employment Law, Tenth Edition, Palgrave
- Pitt, G. (2020) Employment Law, Eleventh Edition, Sweet and Maxwell
- Taylor, S. & Emir, A. (2019) Employment Law: An Introduction, Fifth Edition, Oxford University Press
Indicative basic reading list:
- Collins, H. (2012) Employment Law, Second Edition, Oxford University Press
- Davies, A. (2009): Perspectives on Labour Law, Second Edition, Cambridge University Press
- Deakin, S. & Morris, G. (2014) Labour Law, Seventh Edition, Hart Publishing
- Emir, A. (ed) (2022) Selwyn's Law of Employment, Twenty-second Edition, Oxford University Press
- Honeyball, S. (2011) Great Debates: Employment Law, Palgrave
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
You will have access to an online searchable and resources database, with links to several eBooks available through the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE). Within this environment, you will also be supported through online discussion forums and activities.
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
As an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development you will also have access to the entirety of the Institute's website, including all published research reports, archived articles from 'People Management', fact sheets, discussion papers and briefings.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 17/07/2014 |
| Last revision date | 28/02/2023 |
