Subject details

At the completion of this subject students will be able to:

  1. discuss the contemporary context of work
  2. identify and apply different themes about the meaning of work
  3. define and classify work, distinguish it from non-work and explore the extent of hidden work and relate to concepts of work life balance
  4. argue why the temporal aspects of work are important and how management and employees variously manage this aspect of workplace relations
  5. analyse how the skills, emotions and knowledge of employees are utilised by organisations and explore how this can lead to unfair discrimination
  6. examine arguments for and against the deskilling thesis
  7. discuss management surveillance, explain why representation is necessary and analyse strategies employees use for survival
  • Topics
    • Introduction: exploring the realities of work
    • The changing context of work
    • The meaning of work
    • Time and work
    • Work skills
    • Work routines
    • Emotion work
    • Knowledge and work
    • Survival strategies and surveillance at work
    • Hidden work
    • Work and life
    • Unfair discrimination and representation
    • Conclusion and reflection
  • Study resources
    • Instructional Methods
      • Audio/Video conferencing
      • Disscusion forum/Discussion Board
      • Embedded Multimedia
      • Online assignment submission
      • Streaming Multimedia
      • Web links
    • Online Materials
      • Audio-Video streaming
      • Online Assessment
      • Printable format materials
      • Resources and Links

No eligibility requirements

Special requirements

  • EquipmentDetails - Audio/Visual equipment

This subject was previously known as IRL110 Workplace Employment Relations.

Examines how interactions between management and employees create interesting and challenging dynamics in relations at work. Examines work from the employees’ viewpoint and shows how their experience can be quite different from what may be intended or taken for granted. Shows how a range of factors including time, skills and knowledge and emotion affect the employment relationship.

Students will be required to complete one of the assessment tasks as an oral presentation.

  • Assignment 1 - Group Discussion Board Task (25%)
  • Assignment 2 - Presentation (35%)
  • Assignment 3 - Report (40%)

Textbooks are subject to change within the academic year. Students are advised to purchase their books no earlier than one to two months before the start of a subject.

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Related degrees

Postgraduate

Master of Employment Relations