COMLAW 314 : Employment Law

Business and Economics

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The success of a business depends on the maintaining of a productive relationship with its employees. Employment Law covers the legal principles governing the employment relationship. Specific topics include bargaining, personal grievances, enforcement of employment contracts, strikes and lockouts, the rules regarding holidays, and health and safety obligations.

Course Overview

The aim of the course is to develop the ability of students to identify, apply and critically analyse the law relating to the employment relationship in New Zealand. It is intended both for those who seek to specialise in management or employment relations, and also for those specialising in other areas of business wanting to better understand the rights of employees and legal obligations of employers. The course aims to develop the abilities of students to seek solutions to employment relations problems, and analyse and communicate the impact of the legal and regulatory framework on the employment relationship. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: COMLAW 201 or 203, or BUSINESS 115 or COMLAW 101 and MGMT 223, or LAW 121 or 131

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Commerce

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify, assess and analyse legal issues and risks that arise in the context of employment and solve employment law problems. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
  2. Conduct legal research and apply legal problem-solving skills to employment law problems. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
  3. Use a theoretical framework to reflect on the process of working in a group. (Capability 7.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  4. Communicate legal analysis clearly and accurately in both written and oral formats. (Capability 6.1 and 6.2)
  5. Explain the relationship between ethics and employment law issues. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 8.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Test 30% Individual Test
Final Exam 45% Individual Examination
Reflection 5% Individual Coursework
Workshop 5% Individual Coursework
Presentation 15% Group Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Test
Final Exam
Reflection
Workshop
Presentation

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For each week of this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, 4 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Lectures will be available as recordings. 
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the workshop, test and exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Simon Schofield , New Zealand Employment Law Guide (2024 ed, CCH, Auckland).

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

We have improved on the assessments based on last year's feedback.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 10/05/2024 09:04 a.m.