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Syllabus
HRER 504: Seminar in Employment Relations
Theory, process, and issues of industrial relations, including collective bargaining and contract administration. (3 credits)
Overview
The system of employment relations in the United States (sometimes referred to as industrial or labor relations) began to take shape over 200 years ago as a means of working out the conflicting interests of employees and employers in a market economy. Over time it has evolved and adapted as the economic, political, social, and technological environment in which it operates has changed. The system has been remarkably successful in channeling, reducing, and resolving conflict between unions representing employees and management. It also brings stability to many relationships by providing a mechanism through which they can work out their differences. Today, disputes between the parties are very much the exception rather than the rule.
This seminar will provide you with an in-depth introduction to the contemporary American system of employment relations.
Course Goals and Objectives
After completing this course, you should have a clear understanding of:
- The origins of the employment relations system in the U.S. in the 18th and 19th centuries and its development and evolution through the 20th century to the present.
- The two primary parties involved in the relationship—unions and employers—and their goals and objectives regarding the union-management relationship.
- The role of the government—the third party in the relationship—as the party that establishes and enforces the rules (laws) that guide the union-management relationship.
- The three major steps in the employment relations process
- the process by which employees organize a union.
- the process by which unions and employers negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
- the process by which the parties resolve their disagreements over the bargaining agreement, once in place, through grievance procedures and arbitration.
- The manner in which this process functions in major American industries such as the auto, health care, professional sports, and newspaper industries.
- The manner in which this process is adapted to fit the different employment environment found in the public sector (i.e. the relationship between government employees and the government agencies that employ them).
Course Structure
Each week we will work through different topics relevant to the field of employment relations. You are asked to work through each of the week's components in the following order as a way of maximizing the learning process. The work for each week includes:
- Lesson Commentary: The lesson commentary provides a brief overview of the subject to be covered during the week. It also includes a brief discussion of an issue of particular relevance to the week's subject. The online lesson commentary should be read first.
- Readings: Much of the work for each week takes the form of assigned readings. After having read the lesson, you should complete the readings assigned in the textbook. These readings provide foundational information. It is recommended that the assigned readings be completed relatively early in the week so you can draw on them in class discussions and other assignments.
- Activities: The last component of each week's work is the activities. These will include both individual and group activities.
PLEASE NOTE: This course is organized on a semester schedule with submissions due from you each week. IT IS IMPERATIVE that you keep up with the readings and the submissions. In fairness to those of you who get your work in on time, late work will receive significant penalties. If you have work or family obligations that will make it difficult to meet a course deadline, please plan ahead so that you will be able to turn your work in on time. You might consider beginning to work on readings and activities on the Sunday they are first assigned in order to insure that last minute job or personal crises or emergencies will not prevent you from meeting course deadlines.
Please note: The Department of Labor Studies 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.
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
Additional Readings:
This course requires that you access Penn State library materials specifically reserved for this course. You can access these materials by selecting Library Resources in your course navigation, or by accessing the Library E-Reserves Search and search for your instructor's last name.
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 can view the Online Students' Library Guide for more information.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Once you have a Penn State account, you will automatically be registered with the library within 24–48 hours. If you would like to determine whether your registration has been completed, visit the Libraries home page and select My Account.
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 Requirements and Grading
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Points |
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Individual Activities |
1050 |
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Zinnia Negotiation |
500 |
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ULP Quiz |
100 |
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Whole Class Discussion |
50 |
| Legal Case Analysis Group Discussion | 100 |
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Final Essay |
200 |
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TOTAL |
2000 |
- Individual Weekly Activities: Typically you will be expected to participate in individual activities related to the issues addressed in the weekly readings. Essays should focus on analysis of the lesson topic. This analysis can draw from course material, valid and reliable external sources and recommended course readings. Students are strongly encouraged to explore external research throughout this course, but are also strongly cautioned to be aware of the validity, reliability and potential bias of many sites. Where possible students should rely on valid and reliable, peer-reviewed academic work. The essays should be written at the level of a graduate level essay – i.e. they should go beyond mere description of the course material. The essays should also follow an acceptable format. At a minimum each essay should have a strong intro with a hook and a roadmap, strong body paragraphs each with a clear theme and transition and a strong summary/conclusion paragraph. Students should avoid two sentence or less paragraphs, paragraphs with multiple themes. Papers should be at a minimum around 500 words and at a maximum no more than 1000 words. Points will be deducted from papers that are less than 400 words and the professor reserves the right to deduct points for papers that exceed 1500.
- Disucssion: You will be evaluated by the instructor in terms of the quality and quantity of your contribution to the discussion forums and/or your performance on the individual essay(s) assigned for that week.
- ULP Quiz: You will test your knowledge of Unfair Labor Practices content by answering ten multiple choice questions.
- Zinnia Case: As a member of a group, you will participate in a simulation and negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Zinnia Hotel and the Service Workers Local H-56. This simulation will be completed over multiple weeks.
- Final Exam Essay: You will respond to two essay prompts. You will apply knowledge from the entire semester (cumulative) in your responses.
Tutor.com is a 24/7 tutoring service that provides students with assistance in coursework, test preparation, research, writing, and more for various subjects. The tutors are subject-matter experts, and each student will have personalized one-on-one sessions with them. Students can schedule their own tutoring appointments to engage in interactive sessions that include a whiteboard and chat feature. The service can be utilized on any device that has Internet access. Students are encouraged to use the service throughout the semester.
| Lesson | Activity | Points Per Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Getting Started | Getting Started Activities | ungraded |
| 1 | Labor Relations Process Individual Essay | 100 |
| 2 | Four Schools of Thought Individual Essay | 100 |
| 3 | Inheritance Individual Essay | 100 |
| 3 | Article Discussion - Whole Class | 50 |
| 4 | ULP Quiz | 100 |
| 4 | IRAC/Legal Case Analysis Group Discussion | 100 |
| 5 |
Focusing on Aligning Labor Strategy to Competitive Strategy Individual Essay | 100 |
| 6 | Zinnia and Acme Individual Essay | 100 |
| 7 | Zinnia Step 1: Individual Prep Work | 100 |
| 8 | Zinnia Negotiation: Step 3b Individual Essay | 100 |
| 10 | Zinnia Negotitation: Step 5a Group Activity | combined with Step 5b |
| 10 | Zinnia Negotitation: Step 5b Group Activity | 100 |
| 10 | Zinnia Negotiation: Step 6 Reflection Individual Essay | 200 |
| 11 | Grievance Case Individual Activity | 100 |
| 11 | Suspension of Nurse Kevin Essay | 100 |
| 12 | Right to Strike Essay | 100 |
| 13 | Comparative Labor Relations Essay | 100 |
| 14 | The Future of Labor Relations Essay | 150 |
| 15 | Final Exam Essay | 200 |
| 2000 |
Course Grades: At the end of the semester the instructor will assign grades based on a standard grade distribution as below:
| Grade | % Range |
|---|---|
| A | 93 -100 |
| A- | 90 - 92.99 |
| B+ | 87 - 89.99 |
| B | 83 - 86.99 |
| B- | 80 - 82.99 |
| C+ | 77 - 79.99 |
| C | 70 - 76.99 |
| D | 60 - 69.99 |
| F | 59.99 and below |
Course Schedule
Unless otherwise noted, all assignments are due by Noon (ET) on the Monday after each Lesson's timeframe. Late work will receive significant penalties.
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
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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.
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
In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.
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.
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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.