BH2221 Employee Relations Retake Assignment 2011/2012
Assignment brief
Students are required to write an individual essay on the topic below of minimum 2000 and
maximum 2500 words (including a list of references).
1. Outline recent developments in the role played by two ‘new’ or ‘non traditional’
employee relations actors (e.g. Citizens Advice Bureaux, ACAS or the Commission
for Equality and Human Rights), and discuss their effectiveness in representing and
supporting workers.
Submission deadline: 12 noon on Friday 24 August 2012
Materials & Readings
A number of relevant readings are outlined below. In addition, the slides on lecture eight
(semester one) which are available from StudySpace, and the questions and materials
relating to tutorial eight are also relevant in preparing to write this essay.
Abbott, B. (2004): ‘Worker Representation through the Citizens’ Advice Bureaux’, pp. 245263 in G. Healy, E. Heery, P. Taylor and W. Brown (eds.) The Future of Worker
Representation, Basingstoke: Palgrave (available via StudySpace).
Pollert, A. (2010): ‘The Lived Experience of Isolation for Vulnerable Workers Facing
Workplace Grievances in 21st Century Britain’, Economic and Industrial Democracy,
31(1): 62-92.
Pollert, A. (2005): ‘The Unorganised Worker: The Decline in Collectivism and New Hurdles to
Individual Employment Rights’, Industrial Law Journal, 34 (3): 217-238 (especially 217226) (available on-line via library web pages).
Dickens, L. and Neal, A. (eds) (2006): The Changing Institutional Face of British Employment
Relations, Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International.
Noon, M. and Blyton, P. (2007), The Realities of Work, 3rd edition, Basingstoke: Palgrave,
chapter 11, ‘Representation at Work.’
Gennard and Judge (2005): Employee Relations, 4th edition, London: CIPD. Chapter seven
‘Employee Relations Institutions’ – in particular pages 168-77 on ACAS (alternatively
pages 200-229 in 2010 edition or equivalent pages in 2002 edition).
Donaghy, R. (2005): ‘The Changing Face of Employment Relations in Britain’, Warwick
Papers in Industrial Relations no. 78, August 2005 pages 4-8. Available from
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wbs/research/irru/wpir/warwick_paper_2005_lowry.pd
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Latreille, P, Latreille,J. and Knight, K.(2007): ‘Employment Tribunals and Acas: evidence
from a survey of representatives’, Industrial Relations Journal, 38(2): 136-154.
O'Cinneide, C. (2007): ‘The Commission for Equality and Human Rights: A New Institution
for New and Uncertain Times’, The Industrial Law Journal, 36(2): 141-62.
Commission
for
Equality
and
Human
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/Pages/default.aspx
Rights
website
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Guidance on Essay Writing
Essays should have a clear structure comprising an introduction, where the essay title or topic is
introduced and content of the essay outlined; main body, containing the substantive evidence
and discussion of the issues raised in the title (i.e. this is the main part of the essay); and
conclusion, in which a summary of the main points arising from the essay and a conclusion
regarding the essay title are outlined. It is often useful to use headings or sub-headings in the
main part of the essay in order to focus on or discuss particular themes and to provide structure.
As opposed to writing merely on the basis of ‘common sense’ points or observations, it is
vitally important that essays are based on and make reference to the academic
literature/theories on employee relations. Reference should be made to at least five
readings or sources in writing the essay. Students will therefore need to undertake
substantial preparatory reading and research before writing the essay, using the readings
outlined and any additional materials that are seen to be relevant. While practitioner sources
may be used, excessive use of the internet should be avoided.
While part of the essay will consist of the relatively straightforward presentation of facts,
figures and trends, it is also necessary that the issues raised in the title are discussed in a
critical, evaluative or analytical manner in such a way as to develop or construct a coherent
analysis or argument. The readings provided will be particularly useful as reference points in
this regard. Essays must provide a wordcount.
Essays submitted must be the original work of the student concerned or properly cited and
referenced as drawing on the work of others. Students are reminded that plagiarism is a
serious academic offence.
Indicative Marking Criteria
Presentation, Structure and Style
Is the essay clearly laid out? Does it have a clear and logical structure with an appropriate
balance between sections and a clearly focused argument?
Is the essay easy to read? Is the essay concise and to the point?
Relevance/Focus
Have the key issues/tasks raised in the question been identified? Have each of the
separate tasks required been completed?
Does the essay remain focused on the key issues or spend too much time discussing less
relevant issues?
Research and References
Is there evidence of a significant research effort having been conducted?
Are the arguments, assertions and analysis provided supported by reference to the
views/research of academic theorists and practitioners?
Critical Analysis and Evaluation
Have the implications of the issues under discussion been fully explored? Have different
viewpoints been considered and evaluated?
Is the approach analytical and evaluative rather than purely descriptive?
Conclusions/Recommendation
Do the conclusions/recommendations follow logically from the preceding analysis? Are they
appropriate, realistic and persuasive?
Referencing Guide
Although an element of ‘common sense’ points is permitted, It is essential that essays reports
back up the points, arguments and discussion made by reference to the readings and materials
provided as well as those collected by students themselves. Equally, it is essential for essays to
acknowledge the source of particular facts, ideas or quotes included by providing a reference.
This will ensure that the risk of plagiarism is avoided. This means that each paragraph
should normally contain one or more references to the readings or materials used.
The Harvard referencing system is preferred, although the use of footnotes or endnotes is also
acceptable.
References in the Text of the Essay
The name of the author(s) and date of publication of the source you are summarising should
be given in brackets immediately after the point you make in the text, e.g. ‘internet buying has
become increasingly popular since 2000 (Allen 1989).’ If the name of the author appears
naturally in the text of your report, then only the date is given in brackets, e.g. ‘Allen (1989)
notes how many companies are now making use of external contractors.’
Specific page numbers should be given where a direct quotation is provided, e.g.
Brewster (1991:31) states that ‘company training policies in different countries are
becoming more similar.’ If the quotation is three lines or longer it should be inserted
separately and indented, for example:
Yin (2003: 3) argues that:
A common misconception is that the various research strategies should be arranged
hierarchically. Many social scientists still deeply believe that case studies are only
appropriate for the exploratory phase of an investigation, that surveys and histories are
appropriate for the descriptive phase, and that experiments are the only way of doing
explanatory or causal enquiries.
::
The Reference section at the end of the Essay
References included in the text of the report should be listed at the end of the text, arranged
alphabetically by author, and placed under the heading ‘References.’ The additional inclusion
of a bibliography (i.e. a list of books and articles that have contributed to the report but which
are not all included as references) is optional. The priority is that a substantial number of
books/sources are used in writing the report (i.e. at least 5) and are referenced accordingly.
A lengthy bibliography will not substitute for weak referencing and/or a short list of
references.
The following style of referencing should be adopted:
Books: Author (Year): Title, Place of publication: Publisher.
E.g.
Kitchen, P. (1999): Marketing communications: principles and practice,
London: International Thomson Business Press.
Chapters in edited books: Author (Year): 'Title of chapter', page numbers, in Editor of book,
Title of book, Place of publication: Publisher.
E.g.
Vineall, T. (1994): 'Planning management development', pp.23-32 in A. Mumford (ed.),
Gower handbook of management development, 4th edition, Aldershot: Gower.
Articles in journals or periodicals: Author (Year): 'Title of article', Title of periodical,
(Volume) issue number: pages.
E.g.
Kaser, D. (2003): ‘Do you Yahoo?’, Information Today, (20) 4: 16-32
Newspapers: Author (Year): 'Title of article', Title of Newspaper, Date, pages.
E.g.
Finch, J and Treanor, J. (2003): ‘High court ruling cuts mobile phone cost by a third’, The
Guardian, June 28, p. 2.
Internet sources: Author (Year): Title [WWW]. Available from: URL. [Accessed date].
E.g.
Department for Education and Skills (2003): Young People’s Gateway [WWW].
Available from: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/youngpeople/youngpeople.shtml
[Accessed 8 July 2003].
Further information on referencing can be found from the Library Services webpage
http://www.kingston.ac.uk/library/using_the_library/general/referencing.htm