Foundations of Work & Employment WORK 1003

Foundations of Work & Employment WORK 1003 Lecture 1 | Introducing ER: The changing context | 30 July 2014 Work & Organisational Studies Stephen Clibborn

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 Today’s Lecture • Introductions • Overview of the course • What’s in it? (focus & scope) • What you need? (resources – text & readings) • How to get the most out of it? (delivery, preparation & participation) • How to pass it? (assessment) • Help! • Week 1 - Context

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 1. Introductions

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 1. Introductions WORK IS: • A source of income (and a simple economic exchange) -or is it? BUT IT’S MORE. Work is . . . • A social network • A structural bond in the community • An economic, social and cultural contribution to communities • A source of identity So, what about “Employment Relations” . . .

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 1. Introductions Why study employment relations? • We all work! • We might manage workers one day • We might represent/advise workers/managers one day • ER has been a lead issue in almost all federal elections in the last 15+ years • ER is the big issue in current federal politics - change on the way? • ER issues are in the news every day . . .

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 2. Overview of the Course

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 a) What’s in it? (Focus & Scope) • Core issues and concepts • Work, workplaces, the labour market • The employment relationship (and contract) • The parties in employment relations (actors and institutions) • Regulation of employment relations • The management of people • To understand these, we first need to understand theory and the context in which issues and concepts occur • We start big (context, theory and actors) then narrow focus to workplace issues (pay, performance etc)

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 The State Context E/ers & E/er Associations Theory E/ees & Unions

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Part 1: • Context • & • Theory

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 Context (Week 1) • ER defined • Changing nature of work • (social & economic context) • Changing focus of workplace • regulation

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 Theory (Week 2) • Why theory? • Three theories of ER: • Unitarism • Radicalism (Marxism) • Pluralism • Focus on conflict • Criticisms

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Week 3 • Guest lecture - Learning Centre & Library • Critical analysis in essay writing & research skills

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Part 2: • Actors • & • Institutions

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 The State E/ers & E/er Associations E/ees & Unions

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Week 4 • The State #1 • Role and function of the state • Direct and indirect state influence • Theories of the state’s role • In whose interests does/should the state act? The State E/ers & E/er Associations E/ees & Unions

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Week 5 • Employers & Employer Associations • Role and strategies of management • What is an employer association? • What do e/er associations do? The State E/ers & E/er Associations E/ees & Unions

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Week 6 • Employees & Unions • What are trade unions? • What do unions do? • What issues face unions in Australia today? The State E/ers & E/er Associations E/ees & Unions

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Week 7 • Reading week (no lecture or tutorial)

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Week 8 • The State #2 – Statutory Regulation • The state’s role continued • Regulation of ER in Australia • The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) The State E/ers & E/er Associations E/ees & Unions

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Part 3: • Processes

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Week 9 • Recruitment & Selection • Aims and methods • How recr. & sel. relate to broader HR functions • The big challenges in recr. & sel.

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Common Week • 29 September - 5 October • No lectures or tutorials

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Week 10 • Pay & Reward • Individual: • Remunerations systems • Pay for performance • Work intensification • Collective • Awards and agreements

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Week 11 • Performance Management • Discretionary effort • Performance management and assessment • Performance appraisal • Monitoring

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Week 12 • Conclusion, course overview & exam preparation

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 b) What you need? (resources – text & readings) Textbook: • Bray M, WaringP, Cooper R and MacNeil, J (2013) Employment Relations Theory and Practice, 3rdEdition, McGraw Hill, Sydney. • Available from from University Co-Op Book Shop HERE Readings: • Further readings are available on the University Library website or direct via this link • The ‘ER in the news’ media articles are all listed in the tutorial guide, available on BB (cut and paste links to your browser) • Please bring additional current news articles to tutorials to share. • From time to time additional readings may be made available on BB

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 c) How to get the most out of it? (delivery, preparation & participation) • There are 4 parts to the course: • Your reading, research & preparation • Core readings • News items • Preparation for tutorials • Your participation in tutorials • Lectures • Assessment

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 c) How to get the most out of it? (delivery, preparation & participation) 1. Your reading, research & preparation • A key ingredient! • Preparation for tutorials • Read and follow the tutorial guide • Core readings (text, journals, ER in the news) • Find your own relevant news items • Newspapers, Workplace Express, etc • Bring them to tutorials

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 c) How to get the most out of it? (delivery, preparation & participation) • Lectures • Each lecture will provide a roadmap to, and illustrate, a key topic addressed in the core readings and themes from the further readings • Slides on BB before each lecture • Lecture recording • NOTE: The Business School has a policy against filming or recording of staff members. You can be charged with academic misconduct if you do so. • Big lecture logistics: • Attendance • Questions • Chat, phones etc.

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 c) How to get the most out of it? (delivery, preparation & participation) • Tutorials • Discussion or the week’s topic/issues • Assistance for you • Tutors: Nicole Cini Sally Hanna Osborne Jeffrey Quinn Tien Nguyen • Preparation + Contribution + Attendance • Preparation = required readings, discussion questions, media article

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 c) How to get the most out of it? • Feedback • Feedback is very important in almost every aspect of university life • I am happy to receive feedback at any time in the course and to make any appropriate adjustments - in particular, mid-semester survey • Feedback you will receive: • Written feedback on assessments • Verbal feedback in tutorials • What to do with the feedback: • Feedback may emphasise what you have done well as well as areas for improvement. Learn from (and act on) both • NB - Essay 2 builds from Essay 1

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 d) How to pass it? (assessment) • The learning outcomes for this unit are (see p3 of Unit of Study Outline): • Define and explain key terms in employment relations • Demonstrate understanding of approaches to employment relations in the Australian context and identify the strategies of the major institutional ‘parties’ in employment relations • Explain the economic and political context in which employment relationships develop • Explain current issues in employment relations – as reported in the media and in public policy debates - and their implications for managers, organisations, employees and other employment relations parties • Demonstrate the analytical skills and the ability to read and write in a critical, academically-appropriate, fashion • Work effectively as a part of a group to better understand the ‘world of work’ • Locate relevant and current reading, data and research

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 d) How to pass it? (assessment) • The assessment for the course is designed to assess the development of these learning outcomes:

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 d) How to pass it? (assessment) Short Essay (20%) • Due before 12 noon on 25 August • Short Essay question is now available on Blackboard • For both essays: • Submit via ‘Assessments’ tab in BB • Referencing - see Business School referencing guide Business School referencing guide (Harvard system) • Late penalties apply - see Business School policy • Word limit

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 d) How to pass it? (assessment) Essay (40%) • Due before 12 noon on 22 September • Long Essay question is now available on Blackboard • www.library.usyd.edu.au

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 d) How to pass it? (assessment) Tutorial participation (10%) • Assessed every week • 4 components: • Preparation • Contribution • Tolerance & respect • (Attendance)

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 d) How to pass it? (assessment) Final Exam (30%) • During the exam period (don’t make plans until dates set) • Short answer and possibly multiple choice • Questions may be based on the whole course • More details to come in the final weeks ofsemester (including practice exams)

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 d) How to pass it? (assessment) • Academic honesty module (0% but compulsory) • All students must complete this module (via Blackboard) by end of week 4 • A note on special consideration • All request for special consideration for any assessment in this unit (e.g. on the grounds of illness or misadventure) are dealt with by the Business School’s Student Information Office (SIO). MORE INFO HERE • All requests are dealt with sensitively and with respect to your privacy • The SIO will require documentation in support of your case (so if you are sick go to the Dr and get a certificate ASAP) • Lecturer and tutors are unable to grant special consideration without permission from the SIO

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 e) Help! • How do you ask for help? • Ask your tutor during tutorials • Ask a question on the Blackboard general discussion board (not for personal questions) • Ask me before/after lecture • Visit me during my consultation time (please first send me a brief email) • NB – please do ask for help if you think you need it!

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 e) Help! • Where else can you find help? • Students@Risk homepage: http://sydney.edu.au/business/learning/students/study_research_writing/students@risk • ISSU: http://sydney.edu.au/international/international_students.shtml • Student Services Overview: http://sydney.edu.au/current_students/student_services/ • Counselling Services: http://sydney.edu.au/current_students/counselling/ (they run skills workshops particularly around public speaking and managing exam stress) • Learning Centre: http://sydney.edu.au/stuserv/learning_centre/ • Learning Centre Workshops: http://sydney.edu.au/stuserv/learning_centre/workshops.shtml • Write Site: http://writesite.elearn.usyd.edu.au/ (useful for academic writing tips)

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 • Part 1: • Week 1 - ER in Context

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 Some Changes in Australian Society, Economy, Regulation 1904-now Service Industrial Protection Open / Global Male breadwinner Feminisation Full-time Non-standard Collective Individual Centralised Decentralised Boom Bust?

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 3. Context • Changes in Employment Relations include: • Significant struggles over the formal regulation of work (e.g. Work Choices / Fair Work). More to come this year! • The workforce participation of women has increased dramatically • Work-life balance has become a major issue for managers, workers and public policy makers • The share of employment in various sectors has shifted • Unionisation has declined substantially in the past generation • A significant proportion of workers’ terms and conditions are negotiated in the workplace (rather than at industry or national levels) • Technology is reshaping the way we work and how we think about work • HRM has developed and grown

Foundations of Work & Employment | WORK1003 Lecture 1 3. Context • What is Employment Relations? A definition: • We adopt the approach of Bray et al (p.18) • ‘The study of the formal and informal rules which regulate the employment relationship and the social processes which create and enforce these rules’ • Reflects Edwards’ (2003, pp 1-2) approach who argues that employment relations is about … • ‘all forms of economic activity in which an employee works under authority of an employer and receives a wage in return for his or her labour’ • Gospel and Palmer (1993) argue the employment relationship is: • ‘an economic, social and political relationship in which employees provide manual and mental labour in exchange for rewards allotted by employers’.

Foundations of Work & Employment WORK 1003