Main Content
Syllabus
HRER 501: Labor and Employment Law (3 credits) Legal context of employment in the United States.
Overview
This seminar is based on the premise that all managers will benefit from having a foundation in labor and employment law. It assumes no prior legal training or education. The material examines employment law as practiced in the United States. When you have completed the course, it is anticipated that you will know and have advanced understanding of the principles and application of the employment relationship of employer and employee, affirmative action, employment discrimination laws, the National Labor Relations Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Employee Retirement Income and Security Act, Immigration Reform and Control Act, workers' compensation laws, Fair Labor Standards Act, and other important legal aspects relevant in the workplace. Through this knowledge, it is anticipated that you will be able to identify issues that impact human resource programs and services.
Throughout the course, various lessons will contain a brief video or commentary that highlights real world application and examples of one or more of the aspects of the lesson. These are presented by practitioners, some of whom are attorneys at law and others who are not.
A typical lesson in this course will comprise reviewing the lesson objectives, viewing the video or commentary, reading and studying the related reading assignments, and completing the individual activity.
As participants in this seminar, some of you will have had more workplace and/or course work experience than others. This experience can bring many observations and solutions to the legal dimensions of human resource management. However, those who have less experience can, through questions surrounding the legal issues and careful reading, generate additional perspectives which may lead to yet other observations and solutions. With this blending of degrees of experience, similar to that in most workplaces, a richness of peer-to-peer learning can occur.
A final comment on the variation of experience may be helpful. The activities, both individual and group, are designed to give you the opportunity to grow in your knowledge of how employment and labor law impact programs and services, as well as the challenges and problem-solving that go into human resource management, and vice versa. You are encouraged to challenge yourself, based on your experience, by selecting questions and activities that take your research and your thinking beyond your current status. And, in the case of group activities, use your varying levels of experience and expertise to challenge yourself and your colleagues to reach a response that maximizes the group's ability.
Course Objectives
After successfully completing the course, you will be able to
- Identify and understand specific employment laws.
- Understand the nature of employment laws and the broad implications in the workplace.
- Locate and understand legal decisions that have impact in the workplace.
- Apply critical-thinking skills, which can be used to handle a variety of legal employment situations.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Schedule
The schedule below outlines the topics we will be covering in this course, along with the associated time frames and activities.
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Readings: |
Lesson 02 Commentary Textbook:
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Lesson 07 Commentary Textbook:
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Lesson 09 Commentary Textbook:
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Lesson 10 Commentary Textbook:
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Lesson 11 Commentary Textbook:
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Lesson 12 Commentary Textbook:
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Lesson 13 Commentary Textbook:
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Lesson 14 Commentary Textbook:
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NOTE: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please see "Graduation" on the World Campus Student Policies website.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grading
The World Campus follows the same grading system as the Penn State resident program. The grades of A, B, C, D, and F indicate the following qualities of academic performance:
A = (Excellent) Indicates exceptional achievement
B = (Good) Indicates extensive achievement
C = (Satisfactory) Indicates acceptable achievement
D = (Poor) Indicates only minimal achievement
F = (Failure) Indicates inadequate achievement necessitating a repetition of the course in order to secure credit
| Grade | Minimum % |
|---|---|
| A | 93 |
| A– | 90 |
| B+ | 87 |
| B | 83 |
| B– | 80 |
| C+ | 77 |
| C | 70 |
| D | 60 |
| F | <59 |
Grading Criteria
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Activity Type |
Total Points |
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Essay Assignments |
705 |
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Quizzes |
80 |
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Discussion Forums |
100 |
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Final Exam (Open Book) |
100 |
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Course Total |
985 |
Activities
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Lesson |
Activity |
Points Per Activity |
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Getting Started |
Getting Started Activities |
Ungraded |
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1 |
Lesson 01 Quiz |
20 |
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2 |
Lesson 02 Essay |
50 |
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Lesson 02 Quiz |
10 |
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3 |
Lesson 03 Group Discussion |
50 |
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Lesson 03 Quiz |
10 |
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4 |
Lesson 04 Essay |
50 |
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Lesson 04 Quiz |
10 |
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5 |
Lesson 05 Essay |
65 |
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Lesson 05 Quiz |
10 |
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6 |
Lesson 06 Essay |
80 |
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7 |
Lesson 07 Essay |
80 |
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Lesson 07 Quiz |
10 |
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8 |
Lesson 08 Group Discussion |
50 |
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Lesson 08 Quiz |
10 |
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9 |
Lesson 09 Essay |
50 |
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10 |
Lesson 10 Essay |
65 |
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11 |
Lesson 11 Essay |
50 |
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12 |
Lesson 12 Essay |
70 |
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13 |
Lesson 13 Essay |
65 |
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14 |
Lesson 14 Essay |
80 |
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15 |
Final Exam |
100 |
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985 |
Deferred Grades
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Activities
Activities are due by 11:55 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the date listed on the Course Schedule, unless otherwise noted. Late submissions will be marked down one grade. Activities that are more than one day late will not be accepted without prior approval.
Students please note: The School of Labor and Employment Relations does not view Wikipedia as a valid source for information cited in academic work. It can be a useful tool for quickly finding general information on subjects or as a starting point for research. However, students should not cite Wikipedia as a source in papers, reports, assignments, etc.
Also note: Some situations that labor law covers are of a sensitive nature (sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination), please contact your instructor if you have concerns you'd like to discuss.
As a Penn State student, you have access to lynda.com, your one-stop shop for video tutorials on Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and hundreds more topics--all free to active Penn State faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students. Take tutorials to help with coursework, learn techniques for your own projects, and build tech skills to boost your résumé. (Tutorials are not required or graded.)
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
Please note that course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. The course instructor and any teaching assistant(s), of course, have access to the course throughout the semester. Each course offered via the World Campus has several instructional design staff members assigned to assist in managing course content and delivery. These instructional design staff members have access to the course throughout the semester for this purpose. Also, World Campus technical staff may be given access in order to resolve technical support issues. In addition, mentor, department head, or program chair may be provided with course access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. Each of these individuals will keep confidential all student course and academic information.
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.