HRM30020 European IR and HRM

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module provides you with an introduction to European industrial relations and HRM:
What are the major issues at work and employment relations in Europe by comparison to the USA?
How do globalisation and European integration processes affect workers, managers and the state?

The module is essential for students in international business, industrial relations and HRM. Students of European politics, sociology, social policy, law, and social justice have also found this module very interesting.

This module includes additional activities:

1) a study trip to Brussels. In Brussels, students will have direct access to actors that shape the emerging multi-level European employment relations system, such as EU-level employer and union federations, and the European Commission and Parliament.

2) tutorials to help students preparing their team presentations

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Curricular information is subject to change

What will I learn?

Learning Outcomes:

This module has two main objectives:
A) To develop your knowledge in the area of international and comparative employment relations. At the end of the course you will have a greater understanding of different contexts for HRM and industrial relations in Europe and the USA
B) To develop analytical skills that will enable you to use this knowledge to enhance your leadership abilities in a global context. Specifically, you will have an increased ability to make sense of what is occurring and to critique simplistic ideas about the impact of globalization and the European integration process on work and employment relations.

Indicative Module Content:

INTRODUCTION: Why studying European HRM and employment relations?

PART ONE: Globalisation and Europeanisation
How is globalisation and Europeanisation shaping employment relations?
- A globalist perspective (simple globalisation approach)
- A sceptical perspective (an institutionalist approach)
- Case study: The global Ireland before & after the crisis
- Globalisation and Europeanisation: a third view. The transformationalist perspective

What is Europeanisation?
- The making of EU: From Market Integration to EU Governance
- The emergence of the “Euro-company”

Globalisation, Europeanisation and international HRM strategies.
- What different international HRM approaches can multinational corporations adopt in relation to their local subsidiaries?

Globalisation, Europeanisation, & transnational union strategies.
- What strategies can trade unions adopt in response to Globalisation and Europeanisation processes?

PART TWO: Convergence or divergence of national employment relations systems

Employment relations in the USA & UK
- What are the major characteristics of neoliberal employment relations?

Continental European employment relations
- German, Italian and Swedish employment relations.
- What are the major characteristics of neo-corporatist employment relations?

PART THREE: Europeanisation of HRM and employment relations
A short history of the economic and social European Integration process
Wage bargaining and social dialogue
Europeanisation of employee voice
Transnational collective action
The EU's New Economic Governace Regime
Migrant workers’ rights as human rights

3-day-long Study Trip to Brussels. In Brussels, students will have direct access to actors that shape the emerging multi-level European employment relations system, such as EU-level employer and union federations, and the European Commission and Parliament. (See Brightspace for draft programme).

Does the “European Social Model” have a future?

Conclusion: European EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS AFTER THE FINANCIAL & COVID CRISES