Course Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
HRER 504: Seminar in Employment Relations (3 credits): Theory, process, and issues of industrial relations, including collective bargaining and contract administration.
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.
View the video below for a word from course author, Paul Clark, Ph. D.
Access the transcript of the video.
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.Additional Readings: Will be posted in PSU Library E-Reserves.
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 | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
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
|
Points |
Individual Activities |
950 |
Zinnia Negotiation |
500 |
Team projects (Unfair Labor Practices) |
100 |
Whole Class Discussions |
50 |
Research Paper |
400 |
TOTAL |
2000 |
- Individual Weekly Activities -- Typically you will be expected to participate in an online discussion and/or individual activities related to the issues addressed in the weekly readings. 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.
- Team Projects -- You will work on two team exercises in the course of the semester. In the first, team members will work on an unfair labor practices (ULP) case study. In the second, teams will work on a collective bargaining exercise. All team members will receive the team score for these exercises. However, I reserve the right to detract points from a team member's score if there is evidence that a team member did not carry out their share of the responsibility for the team's work. Please read this helpful information on working in teams and groups. Note that group assignments require that you fill out a Peer Evaluation Form on each of your teammates. Failure to complete and submit the Peer Evaluation Forms will adversely affect your grade.
You will be asked to fill out a survey designed to collect information on the group activity in this course shortly after that activity is completed. Response to the survey is optional, but your participation will be greatly appreciated.
- Essays -- 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.
- Individual Research Paper—You will be expected to write a research paper on a subject relevant to the course. You will be permitted to choose the topic of your paper, subject to approval by the instructor. The paper should be approximately 2000-2500 words, not including tables, references, etc. The American Psychological Association Citation (APA) Style should be used for this paper.
NOTE: Prior to turning in your paper, you must run it through TURNITIN. It is recommended that you do this a few days before the deadline in case this turns up any problems with your paper. To do so, you will use the information your instructor will provide to access their services. Then follow the instructions to download your paper to "First Submission." It sometimes takes several minutes for the program to analyze your paper. Eventually you should see your "Report." The Report should include a percentage score and a color code. If the color is green or blue, you are OK. If it is yellow or red, click to see comments. The report should indicate where your text is too similar to a publication. If the program turns up passages of more than one or two lines, this needs correction - you will need to paraphrase them and cite the source, indicate they are quotations and cite the source, or remove these passages.
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 rsum (tutorials are not required or graded).
| Lesson | Individual or Team | Discussion Forum | Drop Box | Quiz | Points Per Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Part 1 | Individual | Getting Started Activities | ungraded | ||
| 1 | Whole Class | Labor Relations Week | 50 | ||
| 2 | Individual | Four Schools of Thought and The Inheritance Essay | 100 | ||
| 3 | Individual | ULP (quiz) | 100 | ||
| 3 | Team | Unfair Labor Practices Case Study | 100 | ||
| 3 | Individual | Peer Evaluation | ungraded | ||
| 4 | Individual | Research Paper Topic | ungraded | ||
| 4 | Individual | Why Unions Matter Essay | 100 | ||
| 5 | Individual | Zinnia and ACME Essay | 100 | ||
| 5 | Individual | Updated Research Paper Topic | ungraded | ||
| 5 | Individual | HRER Mid Course Survey | ungraded | ||
| 6 | Team | Zinnia Negotiation: Step 1 | 100 | ||
| 7 | Team | Zinnia Negotiation: Step 2 | combined with Step 3 | ||
| 7 | Team and Individual | Zinnia Negotiation: Step 3 | 100 | ||
| 7 | Individual | Research Paper Topic Summary, Outline, and Sources | ungraded | ||
| 8 | Team | Zinnia Negotiation: Step 4 | combined with Step 5 | ||
| 9 | Team | Zinnia Negotiation: Step 5 | 100 | ||
| 9 | Individual | Zinnia Negotiation: Step 6 Reflection Essay | 200 | ||
| 9 | Individual | Peer Evaluation | ungraded | ||
| 10 | Individual | Individual Essay on Video | 100 | ||
| 10 | Individual | Individual Grievance Case | 100 | ||
| 11 | Individual | Research Paper | 400 | ||
| 12 | Individual | Right to Strike Essay | 100 | ||
| 14 | Individual | Comparative Labor Relations Essay | 100 | ||
| 15 | Individual | The Future of Labor Relations Essay | 150 | ||
| COURSE TOTAL | 2000 |
Course Grades: At the end of the semester the instructor will assign grades based on a standard grade distribution as below:
| Grade | Minimum % |
| A | 93 |
| A- | 90 |
| B+ | 88 |
| B | 82 |
| B- | 80 |
| C+ | 78 |
| C | 70 |
| D | 60 |
| F | < 59 |
Course Schedule
REMINDER: All assignments are due by 11:59 pm, Sunday night of the week assigned, unless otherwise noted below. Late work will receive significant penalties.
| Lesson | Reading Assignment | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson 01 Parts 1 and 2: Getting Started and Intro to Collective Bargaining and Unions |
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| Lesson 02: Labor History and Unions |
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| Lesson 03: Labor Law |
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| Lesson 04: Union and Management Structure - The Key Participants |
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| Lesson 05: Organizing Level |
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| Lesson 06: Collective Bargaining: Economic and Non-Economic Issues |
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Lesson 07: Zinnia Negotiations Continued |
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| Lesson 08: Collective Bargaining: Negotiations, Strike and Impasse |
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Lesson 09: Zinnia Negotiation Conclusion |
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| Lesson 10: Contract Administration: Grievance/Arbitration Procedure |
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| Lessons 11: Research Paper |
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| Lesson 12: Public Sector Collective Bargaining |
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| Lesson 13: Comparative Labor Relations |
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| Lesson 14: The Future of Labor Relations |
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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 go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account userid and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year from the day the course began (with the exception of library reserves).
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.
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.