EMPLOYEE RELATIONS - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module seeks to develop students’ understanding of a range of issues in labour market and employee relations. Students will be introduced to both classic labour market theories and more contemporary issues in employee relations such as non-standard forms of work, equality bargaining and the growth of job insecurity. The module will encourage students to critically evaluate different theoretical perspectives and provide them with a methodological foundation to make sense of the changing labour market and working life. This module will prepare students for the subsequent more advanced modules on the HRM Pathway.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

GUILLAUME Cecile (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Introduction to employee relations


• Theory of ER 


• Employee Relations actors


• Collective bargaining


• Industrial action


• Employee involvement and participation


• Labour market flexibility


• Labour market segmentation


• Equality bargaining


• Disciplinary procedures

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

Knowledge of the key theories in employee relations, assess their ability to critically evaluate employee relations practices, relate general theories to specific examples, correctly interpret information and assess contradicting arguments against empirical evidence.

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

 

• Online, open book examination: The assessment will be time constrained. Students will choose 2 questions out of 5 questions provided.

 

• Vlog Employee Relations: Throughout the course, students will be presented with a range of contemporary issues in employment relations. I will highlight 2 discussion topics presented in the module and students will choose one of those that they will need to take some time to think about, research, and respond to in the form of an Employee Relations Vlog (video blog). The student will film him/herself presenting the information for each of the two topics they choose. At the minimum, the video should summarize their perspective while demonstrating course-related knowledge and personal insight. Each Vlog should have the total length of at least 2 minutes and no more than 3 minutes. Students will submit a link to their video via Surrey Learn. This is an opportunity for students to exhibit their understanding of concepts covered in the module. Vlogs provide a creative way of processing and presenting information/knowledge. It supports students’ learning by facilitating reflection and questioning and it provides an opportunity for students to take more control of their learning.

 

Feedback

The module adopts an enquiry-based approach to feedback. Students will receive feedback on their performance throughout the module. These include both verbal feedback provided during seminars and written feedback on their assessment.

Module aims

• To provide students with a theoretical foundation of contemporary issues in employee relations.
• To encourage critical evaluation of different approaches to the management of employee relations.
• To prepare students for the practical challenges of managing complex employment relationships at work.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

This module will be taught through a blended teaching and learning approach.  This will include a combination of weekly face to face seminars and online captured content.  Total student learning time is approximately 150 hours, including independent study. Teaching and learning will be supported by highly interactive activities such as group exercises, discussions and case studies when appropriate.  All the teaching and learning materials will be made available through SurreyLearn.

 

 

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN2136

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.