Overview
This unit discusses the changing nature of employment relations. In this unit, you will assess the role of state, employers, unions and employees in employment relations within the context of a changing labour market. You will analyse the legal, political and economic framework within which employment relations take place. Contemporary issues will be highlighted and discussed.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit Coordinator reflection
The current textbook, published in 2018, provides a solid foundation in fundamental theories and concepts; however, its real-world examples and coverage of employment regulations are somewhat outdated.
To ensure the continued relevance of the unit, it is recommended to replace or supplement the current textbook with a more recent publication, providing students with access to up-to-date examples, contemporary theories, and current references in employment relations.
Feedback from Student evaluations
Knowledge and skills
Opportunities for guest presenters or sessions will be explored, and current real-world case studies will be embedded in the learning materials.
- Explain and analyse the role of the state, employers, unions and employees in employment relations.
- Assess the impact of changes in the labour market and in the legal, political and economic framework on employment relations.
- Identify and discuss contemporary issues in employment relations.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Literature Review or Systematic Review - 50% | |||
| 2 - Case Study - 50% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
Employment Relations
- Edition: 4th (2018)
- Authors: Mark Bray, Peter Waring, Rae Cooper, & Johanna Macneil
- McGraw-Hill
- ISBN: 9781743765586
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom access
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.veres@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Unit overview and introduction to employment relations
Chapter
Chapter 1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
The study of employment relations: analytical tools and values
Chapter
Chapters 2 and 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
The state
Chapter
Chapter 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Management and employer representatives
Chapter
Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Employee representation: unions
Chapter
Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Employee representation: non-union
Chapter
Chapter 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
State regulation: minimum standards and awards
Chapter
Chapter 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
State regulation: equal employment opportunity, unfair dismissal and safety at work
Chapter
Chapter 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
Managerial unilateralism and individual contracting
Chapter
Chapter 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
Collective agreement-making and collective bargaining: structures and processes
Chapter
Chapter 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
Different outcomes of employment relations: industrial conflict and performance
Chapter
Chapters 12 and 13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Capstone week: review of employment relations
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Literature Review or Systematic Review
Purpose: The primary purpose of this assessment is to develop students’ research, analytical and referencing skills. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate critical thinking and effective written communication. Furthermore, this assessment serves as an initial step in conducting appropriate research for Assessment 2.
Length: 2,000 words ± 10% (excluding references)
Task details:
In this assessment, you are required to review current literature on employment relations and compile an annotated bibliography based on four (4) recent peer-reviewed journal articles. This task will support your preparation for Assessment 2, which examines employment relations and the future of work in Australia.
Step 1: Understand the integration of Assessments 1 and 2
Begin by reviewing the Assessment 2 task description to ensure a clear understanding of its requirements. As Assessments 1 and 2 are integrated, this step will help you select relevant articles for your annotated bibliography.
Step 2: Conduct research on recent academic literature
Identify four (4) academic peer-reviewed journal articles published from 2014 onwards that are relevant Assessment 2.
It is recommended that you use the CQ University Library’s online search to access peer-reviewed journals. Recommended journals include:
· Journal of Industrial Relations
· International Employment Relations Review
· International Journal of Employment Studies
· Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources
Step 3: Write an Annotated Bibliography
For each article, you are required to include the following sections:
1. Full reference of the article
Provide the complete citation in the required referencing style.
2. Article Overview
Summarize the key elements of the article
o The main research objective
o The research methodology
o Key findings and discussion
3. Relevance to Assessment 2
Explain how the article relates to Assessment 2 and how you plan to incorporate the information in your discussion. For example,
o A specific definition or concept from the article
o A particular finding or insight
o A direct quotation (where appropriate) to support your analysis in Assessment 2
Each annotated bibliography entry should be 500 words, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the selected articles.
Note: Please also refer to the Assessment information on Moodle before commencing this task.
Important: For this assessment, students must adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS). You are permitted to use AI tools for planning, idea development, and research. However, your final submission should clearly demonstrate how you have developed, refined, and critically engaged with these ideas. Failure to properly disclose the use of AI tools or any misuse will be regarded as a breach of academic integrity and handled in accordance with the university's academic misconduct policies.
Week 6 Friday (17 Apr 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 8 Friday (8 May 2026)
Grades and feedback will be released within two weeks from the submission. Please use the feedback you have received to work on Assessment 2.
Your assignment will be assessed based on the following criteria, each representing a specific aspect:
1. Article overview (40%): Demonstrate a clear understanding and articulation of the research objectives, methodology, key findings and discussion.
2. Relevance to Assessment 2 (40%): Provide a clear explanation of how the articles relate to the requirements of Assessment 2.
3. Overall presentation and writing quality (10%): Exhibit proficiency in presenting the assignment, including the organisation, clarity, and effectiveness of the writing style and structure.
3. References (10%): Ensure compliance with the CQU APA 7.0 Referencing Guide.
Your assessment will be marked out of 100 and converted to a mark out of 50 as per the assessment weighting.
Note: Late submissions without prior approval will incur a 5% penalty per day (-2.5 marks).
- Explain and analyse the role of the state, employers, unions and employees in employment relations.
- Assess the impact of changes in the labour market and in the legal, political and economic framework on employment relations.
- Identify and discuss contemporary issues in employment relations.
2 Case Study
Purpose: Building on the employment relations literature in Assessment 1, students should incorporate the material from that task, along with any feedback received from the marker, into Assessment 2. This assessment provides an opportunity to apply their understanding by critically analysing employment relations and examining their evolution in the context of the future of work in Australia. Through this task, students will further develop their research, analytical, critical thinking, and written communication skills.
Length: 2,500 words ± 10% (excluding title page, table of contents, appendix and reference list)
Task details:
The nature of employment relations is continuously evolving due to various factors, including technological advancements (e.g. AI and automation), the rise of the gig economy, shifting trends in unionization, and an increasing focus on workplace diversity and inclusion.
For Assessment 2, you are required to:
1. Review the case studies provided on the unit Moodle site under the Assessment tile in the Assessment 2 section.
2. Select two to three key areas that are currently impacting employment relations in Australia (from the provided cases).
3. Critically analyse how government, organization, union and/or employees are responding to these challenges.
This assessment is presented in a report format.
Your analysis should be supported by at least eight (8) relevant peer-reviewed journal articles, including those in your Assessment 1.
Note: please also refer to the Assessment information on Moodle before commencing this task.
Important: For this assessment, students must adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS). You are permitted to use AI tools for planning, idea development, and research. However, your final submission should clearly demonstrate how you have developed, refined, and critically engaged with these ideas. Failure to properly disclose the use of AI tools or any misuse will be regarded as a breach of academic integrity and handled in accordance with the university's academic misconduct policies
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Vacation/Exam Week Friday (19 June 2026)
Marks and feedback will be released after grade certification.
Your assignment will be assessed based on the following criteria, each representing a specific aspect:
1. Depth of knowledge and critical analysis of the topic (40%)
2. Application of literature (30%)
3. Organization and structure (10%)
4. Presentation and writing quality (10%)
5. Referencing (10%)
Your assessment will be marked out of 100 and converted to a mark out of 50 as per the assessment weighting.
Note: Late submissions without prior approval will incur a 5% penalty per day (-2.5 marks).
- Explain and analyse the role of the state, employers, unions and employees in employment relations.
- Assess the impact of changes in the labour market and in the legal, political and economic framework on employment relations.
- Identify and discuss contemporary issues in employment relations.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
