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Employment Relations - MAN00037H

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  • Department: The York Management School
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23

Module aims

The module examines the fundamental nature of the UK employment relations system and relevant concepts. More specifically, it examines: the changing context of employment (such as the growth in atypical work and the gig economy) and its impact on the UK system and the nature of the employment relationship; the key parties that help regulate the employment relationship (State, employers and trade unions); the continuing impact of EU regulation on the UK system and; the processes that take place within the UK system; employee voice and employee participation, collective bargaining and conflict.

Module learning outcomes

  • Understand the nature of and developments in contemporary work and employment in the UK.
  • Critically evaluate the roles of key actors in employment relations (The State, Employers, Trade Unions)
  • Critically evaluate the structures and, processes in employment relations such as differing forms of employee voice, conflict and conflict resolution.
  • Understand the role of EU legal regulation and its continuing impact on contemporary employment relations (despite Brexit)

Module content

  • Conceptualise work and employment relations
  • Trade union structure, membership and collective bargaining
  • Employer and management strategies in the private and public sectors
  • The role of the state and the regulatory framework for employment relations
  • Employee involvement, participation and industrial democracy
  • Conflict at work
  • The continuing impact of EU regulation on the UK employment relations system

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Module assessment reports to students are written by the module leader for all assessments (open and closed) and placed on the VLE after the Board of Examiners has received the module marks. Students get written feedback on both their summative and formative assessments and oral feedback during seminars.

Indicative reading

Wilkinson, A., Dundon, T. Donaghy, J. Colvin, J.S (2018) The Routledge Companion to Employment Relations. Routledge


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.