Course Title: Manage employee relations

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

Course Code: BUSM8004C

Course Title: Manage employee relations

School: 650T Vocational Business Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5369 - Diploma of Logistics

Course Contact: Suzanne Maugeri

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 1466

Course Contact Email: suzanne.maugeri@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 80

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to manage employee and industrial relations matters in an organisation. It involves developing and implementing employee and industrial relations policies and plans and managing conflict resolution negotiations.

It applies to those who are authorised to oversee industrial relations and manage conflict and grievances in an organisation. They will have a sound theoretical knowledge base in human resources management and industrial relations as well as current knowledge of industrial relations trends and legislation.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	BSBWRK510 Manage employee relations
Element:	1. Develop employee and industrial relations policies and plans
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Analyse strategic plans and operational plans to determine long term employee relations 1.2 Analyse existing employee relations performance in relation to workforce objectives 1.3 Evaluate options in terms of cost-benefit, risk-analysis and current legislative requirements 1.4 Work with the management team to develop industrial relations policies and plans 1.5 Identify the skills and knowledge needed by management and the workforce to effectively implement these strategies and policies
Element:	2. Implement employee relations policies and plans
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Develop an implementation plan and a contingency plan for the employee relations policies and strategies 2.2 Make arrangements for training and development for identified needs to support the employee relations plan 2.3 Undertake associated employee relations activities to reach agreement on changes required by the organisational policies or implementation plan 2.4 Ensure procedures for addressing grievances and conflict are properly documented 2.5 Communicate key issues about procedures for addressing grievances and conflict to stakeholders 2.6 Review employee relations policies and plans to establish whether they are meeting their intended outcomes
Element:	3. Manage negotiations to resolve conflict
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Train individuals in conflict-management techniques and procedures 3.2 Identify, and where possible alleviate or eliminate, sources of conflict or grievance according to legal requirements 3.3 Check documentation and other information sources to clarify issues in dispute 3.4 Obtain expert or specialist advice and/or refer to precedents, if required 3.5 Determine desired negotiation outcomes, negotiation strategy and negotiation timeframes 3.6 Advocate the organisation’s position in negotiation to obtain agreement 3.7 Document, and if necessary certify, the agreed outcomes with the relevant jurisdiction 3.8 Implement agreements 3.9 Take remedial action where groups or individuals fail to abide by agreements

Learning Outcomes

This course is structured to provide students with the optimum learning experience in order to demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to manage employee and industrial relations matters in an organisation. It involves developing and implementing employee and industrial relations policies and plans and managing conflict resolution negotiations.

Details of Learning Activities

 

A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.

The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills in a simulated/real workplace environment.

We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.

Teaching Schedule

 

Course Schedule                                                      Semester 1: 2020
Week	Topic	Readings and Activities		Assessment
Week 1 10 Feb 2020	Induction and orientation information as applicable Introduction to course	Activity: Exploring course schedules and discussion Explain Safety systems at RMIT Review program and Canvas so that students are comfortable in navigating the system
Week 2 17 Feb 2020	Employee Commitment and Satisfaction	Activity: Classroom discussions Employee relations - industrial relations _ history review
Week 3 24 Feb 2020	Employee Commitment and Satisfaction	Activity:  Classroom discussions Introduction to Industrial relations  Strategic Planning  Operational Planing  Employment Awards Conflict Resolution continued  Team Work culture development  Class Activities in preparation for Assessment task 1
Week 4 2 Mar 2020	Workplace Culture	Activity:  Classroom discussions Continue from Week 3 and preparation for Assessment 1 Completion of case study and Class Activities
Week 5 9 Mar 2020	Workforce planning	Activity: Classroom discussions Workplace Planning and industry review - introduce conflict management  09/03/2020 -Labour Day Public Holiday
Week 6 16 Mar 2020	Workplace planning	Activity: Classroom discussions Workplace Planning & Policies
Week 7 23 Mar 2020	Conflict management	Activity: Classroom discussions Continue Conflict Management in support for assessment 1
Week 8 30 Mar 2020	Conflict management	Activity: Classroom discussions Continue Conflict Management in support for assessment 1
Week 9 6 Apr 2020	Mid semester break	Thursday to Wednesday 10 April Good Friday Public Holiday		Easter break 9/04 - 15/04 RMIT holiday
Week 9 13 Apr 2020	Conflict management	Activity: Classroom discussions and assessment help Start on handling grievances		Assessment 1 due
Week 10 20 Apr 2020	Employment conditions	Activity: Review assessment task 2 and general course review
Week 11  27 Apr 2020	Employment conditions	Activity: Classroom discussion Review Employment Conditions and Employment conditions - now and future indicators
Week 12 4 May 2020	Workplace agreements	Activity:Classroom discussion  Work place agreements with Australian industrial Relations
Week 13 11 May 2020	Employee Relations strategies/policies and plans	Activity:Classroom discussion Employee Relations Strategies and Policy review & discussion
Week 14 18 May 2020	Employee Relations strategies/policies and plans	Activity:Classroom discussion  Strategic industrial relations and Policies
Week 15 25 May 2020	Employee Relations strategies/policies and plans	Activity:Classroom discussion  Strategic industrial relations and Policies		Assessment 2 Due: Friday 29/05/2020 @ cob 5.00 pm
Week 16 1 June 2020	Revision & Review	Revision & Review
Week 17  8/06/2020 (8/6/2020 Public Holiday Queens Birthday)	Re-submissions	Feedback to students, Final assessment review with students that need to resubmit

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

Assessment Methods

Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of the requirements in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks, for example:

• direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
• review of final printed documents
• demonstration of techniques
• observation of presentations
• oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of software applications

You are advised that you are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate your assessment work to your teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.

Performance  Evidence

You will be required to provide evidence of the following skills:

• analyse organisational documentation to determine long-term employee relations objectives and current employee relations performance
• collaborate with others to develop and review industrial relations policies and plans
• develop implementation and contingency plans for industrial relations policies
• identify the skills and knowledge needed to implement the plan and organise training and development for self and staff
• document and communicate strategies and procedures for eliminating and dealing with grievances and disputes
• train others in conflict-resolution techniques
• manage industrial relations conflicts, including advocating the organisation’s position during negotiations and documenting, implementing and following up agreements.

Knowledge Evidence

You are required to provide evidence of the following:

• explain relevant industrial relations legislation or regulations
• summarise enterprise and workplace bargaining processes
• summarise key entities in the current Australian industrial relations system, including courts and tribunals, trade unions and employer bodies
• identify sources of expert advice.

Feedback

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions. You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed. Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.

You should take note of all feedback received and use this information to improve your learning outcomes and final performance in the course.

Assessment Tasks

 

Students are required to complete 2 tasks. You must successfully complete both tasks to be deemed competent in this unit

Assessment Task 1 – Conflict Resolution Case Study

Date and time due: Week 9
Group or Individual: This assignment is to be completed individually or as a group of three.

Purpose:
As a manager or small business owner in the Transport and Logistics industry it is important to understand how to plan and implement employee relations policies as well as effectively negotiate and resolve conflict and disputes. This assessment assess your skills and knowledge on how to effectively deal with conflict and take appropriate action.

 

Assessment Task 2 –  HR Manual - Policy Development and Implementation

Date and time due: Week 15
Group or Individual: This assignment is to be completed in groups of 3 persons.

Purpose:
To demonstrate that you have the required skills and knowledge to effectively manage industrial relations in the workplace you will need to complete a Policy Development and Implementation Strategy for an area of industrial relations (e.g. unfair dismissal, workplace discrimination, bullying and harassment, provisions for staff leave, etc.)

Assessment Matrix

 

For these  assessment tasks you need to draw upon what you have learned throughout the unit.

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix that maps all the assessment is available on CANVAS. Manage employee Relations

Submission Requirements

You should: 

• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. 
• Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
• When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use the Assessment task document that includes a declaration and statement of authorship.
• Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers.

Late Submission Procedures

You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.

More Information:  https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work

Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for Special Consideration.  Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.

More Information: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration

Resubmissions
If you are found to be unsuccessful in a particular Course Assessment Task (or you do not submit/attend) you will be allowed one resubmission.  Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. 

If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview