Main Content
Syllabus
HRER 801: Comparative and International Employment and Labor Law - (3 credits) Survey of employment and labor laws around the world that shape the practice of international human resource management (IHRM).
Overview
Welcome to Comparative and International Employment and Labor Law! A part of the Penn State certificate program in International Human Resource Management (IHRM), this course helps HR professionals to broaden their practice across international boundaries as much as ever before.
Some of us may be old enough to have begun our careers in human resources when business was more “nation-based” than today. That means that some of us began our professional lives by studying, not IHRM, but simply human resource management. As we did that, we learned to address HR issues within a single country of course. We not only followed this approach, but we did it without thinking for very long about what we might now call our ethnocentrism. In years past, we could take for granted the assumption that we’d work “within a single country.” Times have changed. Now, in seeking to stretch our knowledge and abilities beyond our own national boundaries, we enter a new, diverse, and exciting field that introduces us to laws and practices literally from all around the world.
Course Goals and Objectives
After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:
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Identify how everyday HR activities trigger different legal compliance obligations from one country to another;
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Analyze when employment law permits a multinational enterprise (MNE) to adopt truly global HR policies “versus” when it requires regional or country-by-country standards;
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Evaluate and apply a growing body of internationalized norms of a “soft law” kind;
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Identify how MNEs must play their role, not only in complying with, but in shaping both national and international labor and employment law.
Required Course Materials
There are not any required materials that need to be purchased for this course.
- All required readings will be posted in E-Reserves.
Additional Readings: Will be posted in E-Reserves and you can access them via the course Web site.
For pricing and ordering information, please see the Barnes & Noble College website.
Materials will be available at Barnes & Noble College approximately three weeks before the course begins. It is very important that you purchase the correct materials. If your course requires one or more textbooks, you must have exactly the correct text required (edition and year).
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 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.
E-Reserves
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.
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. |
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| 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!
Deferred Grades
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.
Course Requirements and 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 % |
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| A | 93 |
| A- | 90 |
| B+ | 87 |
| B | 83 |
| B- | 80 |
| C+ | 77 |
| C | 70 |
| D | 60 |
| F | < 59 |
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
Unless otherwise noted, all assignments are due by Noon (ET) on the Monday after each Lesson's timeframe.
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Lesson 01 Part 1 and Part 2 Commentary eReserve
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Lesson 04 Commentary Other Readings
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E-Reserves
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Lesson 07 Commentary E-Reserves
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Lesson 08 Commentary E-Reserves
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Lesson 09 Commentary E-Reserves
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Lesson 10 Commentary Other Readings:
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Lesson 11 Commentary Other Readings:
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Lesson 12 Commentary E-Reserves
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Lesson 13 Commentary Other Readings: |
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Lesson 14 Commentary E-Reserves
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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 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.
Activities
| Lesson | Discussion | Assignment | Quiz | Points Per Assignment |
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| 01 | Class Introduction Forum |
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Ungraded |
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| 01 | Lesson 01 Quiz | Ungraded | ||
| 01 | Lesson 01 Assignment | 50 | ||
| 02 | Lesson 02 Quiz | 20 | ||
| 02 | Lesson 02 Discussion Forum | 40 | ||
| 03 | Lesson 03 Quiz | 20 | ||
| 03 | Lesson 03 Assignment | 50 | ||
| Lesson 04 Quiz | 20 | |||
| 04 | Lesson 04 GROUP Activity | 50 | ||
| 05 | Lesson 05 Quiz | 20 | ||
| 05 | Lesson 05 Assignment | 50 | ||
| 05 | Mid-Course Survey | Ungraded | ||
| 06 | Lesson 06 Quiz | 20 | ||
| 06 | Lesson 06 Assignment | 50 | ||
| 07 | Lesson 07 Quiz | 20 | ||
| 07 | Lesson 07 Assignment | 50 | ||
| 08 | Lesson 08 Quiz | 20 | ||
| 08 | Lesson 08 Assignment | 50 | ||
| 09 | Lesson 09 Quiz | 20 | ||
| 09 | Lesson 09 Discussion Forum | 20 | ||
| 09 | Lesson 09 Assignment | 20 | ||
| 10 | Lesson 10 Quiz | 20 | ||
| 10 | Lesson 10 Discussion Forum | 20 | ||
| 10 | UN Guiding Principles GROUP Activity (Individual) | 20 (combined with Lesson 11 grade) | ||
| 11 | UN Guiding Principles GROUP Activity (Group) | 25 | ||
| 11 | Lesson 11 Quiz | 20 | ||
| 11 | Lesson 11 Assignment | 20 | ||
| 12 | Lesson 12 Quiz | 20 | ||
| 12 | Lesson 12 Assignment | 50 | ||
| 13 | Lesson 13 Quiz | 20 | ||
| 13 | Lesson 13 Assignment | 50 | ||
| 14 | Lesson 14 Quiz | 20 | ||
| 14 | Lesson 14 Assignment | 50 | ||
| Final | Final Exam | 75 | ||
| Course Total | 1000 |
Individual Activities
You are expected to learn from each other through online discussions and assignment postings. Both individual preparations and working with groups are crucial for success in this course. Only through contribution to class discussions, and completing all readings, activities, and exercises can your learning be meaningful.
Students 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, activities, etc.
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.)
Group Work
All of you will be assigned to a group and are required to work with your group to turn in activities. Once groups are formed, the group should designate the time and day each assignment is to be provided to the reporter of the week. It is your responsibility to let your instructor and your group members know if you are having computer problems or other problems and are experiencing delays on the designated times agreed upon by the group. Remember, some of your members may work full-time or part-time. Each group member is expected to share his/her schedule in terms of when their contribution can be completed, availability, etc. You are also expected to use the group areas as necessary to discuss issues with your group members.
Class Atmosphere
Some material in this course may be considered confidential or sensitive (organizationally). During discussion, you may keep the identity of your organization confidential to protect sensitivities.
Professional behavior is expected in this class. The instructor reserves the right to adjust the overall grade of any student who acts unprofessionally or is disrespectful.
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.
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.