Legal Skills: Employment Law - Employee Relations and the Law

Course Overview

This 1-day module uses a practical case study approach to examine the role of trade unions, the law relating to trade unions and union membership, and the implications for employers.

Audience

Personnel practitioners or line managers responsible for employment law and employee relations issues within their organisation. Some previous experience of employee relations is assumed.

Intermediate level course - some previous experience of the subject is assumed.

Skills Gained

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• describe the key stages in union recognition
• describe the role of the social partners and social dimension of the EU, as well as EU legislation
• appreciate the function of collective bargaining in negotiating terms and conditions
• advise on and apply the law in respect of industrial action and other key aspects of employee relations

Course Outline

Employee relations in the UK

• the impact of legislation on employee relations
• the current ER climate
• national collective agreements
• individual collective agreements

The EU dimension

• the role of the social partners
• EC legislation
• Works Councils

Information and consultation

• the Information and Consultation of Employees Directive and regulations
• unionised and non-unionised organisations
• obligations to inform and consult under TUPE
• collective redundancies
• the establishment of works councils in the UK

Trade unions

• collective agreements and protections conferred by union membership
• statutory recognition and de-recognition
• industrial action/strike ballots/picketing
• time off for trade union activities

Negotiating terms and conditions

• systems within non-unionised organisations
• collective bargaining with recognised trade unions
• partnership agreements

Dispute resolution

• internal procedures
• arbitration
• no-strike agreements.

Case study A practical case study will examine key aspects of employee relations, in line with the law and best practice.

Legal Skills: Employment Law - Employee Relations and the Law / LSEL