The module analyses fundamental business issues in the workplace. It builds a robust foundation, taking models of worker's labour-leisure choices, and firm's profit-maximising employment and wage choices. It then critically evaluates realistic personnel problems including management of worker turnover (recruitment and dismissal, payment systems, job design (teams and high-performance work systems), and worker involvement practices.
The module also analyses important government labour policies which affect business. These include training (should there be a tax on firms to pay for training?), discrimination (should there be equal pay for work of \"equal value\"?), health and safety at work, minimum wage legislation (does the living wage destroy jobs?), job security, zero-hours contracts and gig work (should we have more employment protection?).
It brings in as well the broader labour and business context including education policy (e.g. higher or lower University fees) and unemployment assistance programmes (how to increase benefits without reducing work incentives).
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Critically evaluate how labour markets work to determine wages and employment (and unemployment) of different worker groups.
Analyse key labour policy issues, including minimum wages, fees for higher education, industrial training, unemployment benefits, and trade union support.
Analyse the main conceptual and practical issues underlying firm's human resource strategies, including training, recruitment, labour flexibility, equal opportunity, employee participation and worker motivation strategies.
Assessment
41411-01 : Essay : Coursework (70%)
41411-02 : Class Test : Class Test (30%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions
Assessment:
Assessment:
2500 word written essay 70% 45 minute class test 30%
