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Specialist Employment Law

Module description

This module considers key areas of employment legislation and its legal framework, focusing on how people professionals are obliged to take account of legal requirements in different jurisdictions when carrying out the varied aspects of their role.

Module aims - intentions of the module

You will learn about the purpose of employment regulation and the way that it is enforced in practice. You will evaluate the aims and objectives and the role played by the tribunal and courts in enforcing employment law. You will explain the main principles of discrimination law, how to manage recruitment and selection activities lawfully as well as learning about redundancy law and changes in contracts. Finally, you will learn about managing issues relating to pay and working time in a lawful way and employment rights for flexible working.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Explain the purpose of employment regulation and the way it is enforced in practice.
• 2. Describe how to manage recruitment and selection activities lawfully.
• 3. Describe how to manage change and reorganisation lawfully.
• 4. Explain how to manage issues relating to pay and working time lawfully.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 5. Advise on application of policy, regulation, and law for HR issues.

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 6. Communicate information through appropriate channels to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required

Syllabus plan

• Introduction to module including key terms and assessment criteria.
• The aims and objectives of employment regulation.
• The role played by the tribunal and courts system in enforcing employment law.
• How cases are settled before and during formal legal procedures.
• The principles of discrimination law in recruitment, selection, and employment.
• The legal requirements of equal pay.
• The legal implications of managing change.
• The legal requirements relating to transfers of undertakings (TUPE).
• The major statutory rights workers have in relation to pay, leave and working time.
• An explanation of the main principles of maternity, paternity, and adoption rights in the context of employment rights, and other employment rights relating to flexible working.

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

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. 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. 

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Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40% 

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Taylor, S. and Woodhams, C. (eds). (2022) Studying human resource management. 3rd ed. London: CIPD Kogan Page.

Aylott, E. (2022) Employment law: a practical introduction. 3rd ed. London CIPD Kogan Page.

Cushway, B. (2017) The employer’s handbook: an essential guide to employment law, personnel policies and procedures. 13th ed. London: Kogan Page.

Web-based and electronic resources:

 www.cipd.co.uk Website of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Knowledge Hub.

Other resources:

Exeter University Electronic Learning Environment (ELE)

Key words search

HR; Human Resources; People Management; People Professional