Employment Relations
Module title | Employment Relations |
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Module code | BEMM045 |
Academic year | 2025/6 |
Credits | 15 |
Module staff | Ms Sian Robinson (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 10 | 0 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 40 |
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Module description
Human Resource Management (HRM) is about the effective management of the relationship between an organisation and its employees, so this module is essential if you are seeking to develop a career in HRM. Exploring a range of theories and working practices, it considers the evolving nature of the employment relationship and develops your knowledge of managing employee relations in practice. We will be both analysing the nature of the employment relationship, and considering the range of possible approaches that are available to managers seeking to build constructive, high-trust relationships with the people who they employ. We will evaluate both individual employment relationships and the collective employment relationship in organisations, as well as the role of HR in managing the employment relationship between a range of stakeholders.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The purpose of this module is to introduce you to a diverse range of theory and practice from across the field of employee relations. By studying these critically, you will enhance your understanding of the evolving nature of the employment both in the UK and internationally, while also developing the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage employment relations policy and practices in an organisation. The scope of the subjects we will be focusing on is wide, ranging from opinions of the employment relationship and how it is understood; to contemporary developments in fields such as employee engagement, employee voice, conflict, and power and control.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate that you have met the core standards within the CIPD profession Map for Managing Employee Relations
- 2. analyse and critically evaluate major theories and practices in the field of employee relations; individual and collective, UK-based and international
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. explain how employment relations processes and practices affect and are integrated with policy and practice across other areas of HRM
- 4. explain how the nature of the employment relationship underpins all HRM activity
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. develop original arguments concerning the management of employee relations and justify these effectively
- 6. give accurate and timely advice to colleagues about the content and evolution of employee relations policy and practice in organisations
Syllabus plan
You will learn about major contemporary developments in the employment relations field and their implications across a range of settings. Some sessions will focus on the evolution of theories concerning aspects of the employment relationship and on debates about theoretical perspectives. Later sessions will focus more on the practicalities of managing employment relations in organisations. The following topics will be covered:
- Key contributions to the theory of employment relations
- Major contemporary developments in the employee relations context
- The parties to the employment relationship and their perspectives
- Forms of employee involvement, communication and voice
- The role of power and control in the employment relationship
- Conflict and conflict resolution
- Employee engagement
- Employment relations procedures
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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20 | 130 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 20 | Lectures and in class activities |
Guided independent learning | 30 | Reading prior to attending taught sessions |
Guided Independent Study | 40 | Further reading recommended by tutors and completion of online exercises |
Guided independent learning | 60 | Preparing and writing your assignment |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Discussion exercises and case studies | 30 minutes x 10 | 1-6 | Verbal tutor feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Individual written assignment | 100 | 3000 words | 1-6 | Written feedback |
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 |
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Individual written assignment | Individual written assignment | 1-6 | 3 months |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Indicative Reading List:
- Saundry, R., Bennett, T., & Prior, M. (2024). Managing Employment Relations. 8th Edition. KoganPage.
- Bingham, C. (2016) Employment Relations: Fairness & Trust in the Workplace, SAGE publications.
- Blyton, P., Heery, E. & Turnball, P. (2010) Reassessing the Employment Relationship, Palgrave.
- Colling, T. & Terry, M. (eds) (2010) Industrial Relations: Theory and Practice, Third Edition, Blackwell.
- Dibben, P., Wood, G. & Klerck, G. (2011) Employment Relations: A Critical and International Approach, CIPD.
- Dundon, T. & Rollinson, D. (2011) Understanding Employment Relations, Second Edition, McGraw Hill.
- Williams, S. (2020) Introducing employment relations: A critical approach. 5th Edition. Oxford University Press.
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 on 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.
Key words search
employee relations, industrial relations, trade unions, employee involvement, discipline & grievance, employee engagement, employee voice
Credit value | 15 |
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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 | 27/02/2025 |