HR9539 - Employment Law

What will I learn on this module?

The relationship between an employer and its employees is regulated by employment law, thereby providing a framework for HR Professionals and other managers making key people decisions. Both large and small-scale decisions made by employers such as recruitment, development, and changing, or implementing, policies, procedures and terms and conditions, all require a knowledge of employment law implications.
Through this module you will develop your introductory understanding of key areas of, and differing perspectives on, UK employment law with the aim of providing advice and protecting employers from discriminatory and unlawful practices. This practical knowledge is underpinned with an initial consideration of how employment law is created and how to source reliable information on employment law. You will focus upon how to apply employment law in practical and realistic employment scenarios. These case studies are drawn from ongoing issues for HR professionals including recruitment, pay, discipline, grievance, capability, as well as common areas of case law, such as discrimination. You will practically examine how organisational policies, procedures and employment practices can be adapted to take account of current and future developments in employment law. You will also develop understanding of the UK Employment Tribunal process and appeals against its judgments.
Upon completion of this module you will be equipped to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding and application of employment law which will be invaluable for you in your graduate human resources and/or management role.

How will I learn on this module?

Your learning is supported through tutor-led and learner-led session activities, also through tutor-directed and self-directed independent study.
Tutor-led research-informed sessions will help you to develop your conceptual and theoretical understanding of the topic areas. A collaborative, learner-led, tutor-guided problem-based learning approach will support your application of employment law to organisational issues. Application will be made to, for example, real-world case-studies and contemporary management issues of multinational corporations, regional/local SMEs through to public and not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises drawn from within your own management sub-discipline area.
Your learning is also supported by appropriate learning technologies that include extensive and carefully curated learning resources from the worlds’ leading HR researchers and practitioners, to enable your self-directed learning.
Your independent self-directed learning will involve you self-identifying learning activities, such as further academic reading, to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

The learner-led, tutor-guided activities are organised in groups of around 20-30 learners working in smaller teams. This approach provides a closer, more personal academic support. Academics will support you through the led sessions and in planning the types of activities you should be engaging in during your independent study time. They are also available upon request to support you outside of formal session time by responding to questions or concerns that you might have either via email or via individually pre-arranged appointments and/or drop-in sessions. Academic support is also provided through the provision of a range of University learning support services. A wide range of online support materials is also available thought the virtual learning environment. These materials include recordings, webcasts, pre-recorded sessions on key academic skills, also an electronic reading list including RSS feeds that showcase the application of various practices presented in the module. To support you in your academic progress, you will receive both formative and summative feedback on your work through the course of each academic year. Regular formative feedback on class activities provides you with the necessary guidance to scaffold your knowledge and understanding of the key concept and principles of the subject to enable your success in the final summative assessment. Summative feedback/feed-forward will be provided on your work after it has been assessed and graded. You should use all feedback that you receive to identify areas of strength and areas for future study and improvement.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
• To understand how employers contextualise key employment law legislation to support day to day business activity [MLO 01]
• To understand the changing nature of employment law and the need to stay up to date and ensure that research is conducted using the latest resources. [MLO 02]

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

• To develop the skills needed to able to advise organizations and managers on key Human Resources policies and procedures which build on the minimum legal standards. [MLO 03]

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

• To consider the ethical considerations employers should take into account of in order to exceed minimum legal requirements [MLO 04]

How will I be assessed?

Formative
Ongoing face to face formative feedback will be given during the ‘hands on’ seminar activities . More formalised written feedback will be given on a mock assessment which takes place in week 9 of provision.

Summative
Two-hour, open book exam consisting of case study based questions. Case studies will be drawn from the employment law topics covered on the module.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

This module introduces you to UK employment law and how to apply it in a range of practical employment scenarios including discipline, grievance, capability and preventing discrimination. You’ll learn how employment law is created and how to source reliable information on the subject. This will enable you to gain an understanding of how organisational policies, procedures and employment practices can be adapted to take account of current and future developments in the field. The module will also enable you to develop your knowledge and understanding of how cases are conducted in UK Employment Tribunals. Once you’ve completed this module, you’ll be equipped to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding and application of UK employment law which will be invaluable to you in your graduate human resources and/or management role.

Course info

UCAS Code N110

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years full-time or 4 year sandwich

Department Newcastle Business School

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2024 or September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Your Learning Experience

Find out about our distinctive approach at 
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp

Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms

Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees

Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy

Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints