Contemporary Issues in Australian Employment Relations MGMT5000

MGMT5000

SEMESTER1,2025

***Topassthisunit,studentsmustsubmitALLassessmentsandachieveanoverall mark of at least 50% in the course.

Assessment 1 Criticalreflection(40%)due11April2025

Assessment 2 Groupfacilitation (20%)due8May2025,inclass

Assessment 3Report(40%)-due23 May2025

Assessment1(40%)-(20-minutevideoandBlackboarddiscussion200 wordspertopic)

Critical Reflective the 40% mark incorporates both the verbal (Collaborate video recording)and written (Blackboard discussion) components

Select anyTWOtopics from the list below to demonstrate your ability to critically reflectonpertinentAustralianemploymentrelationsissues.Forthisassessment,you will submit a Collaborate Ultra recording with camera switched on as well as engage in discourse using the online discussion board thread. The objective of engaging in meaningful discourse is to develop and enhance the ability to reflect and build your knowledge of employment issues.

Topics:

1. The Closing Loopholes No 2 Act 2024 includes changes that give workers a right to disconnect outside of paidDiscuss how, why and if the right to disconnect will drive cultural change? What are the implications of this change for employers and workers? Provide examples.
2. The new criminal underpayment laws started on 1 JanuaryDiscuss why this law is needed? Who does it protect? What are the implications for employers? Provide examples where underpayment might occur and how should employers ensure underpayments do not occur.
3. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (2024) reports that union density has reduced. However, it is (Peetz, 2023, Workplace Express) argued that those figures do not reflect reality and that union density has not decreased. Why is union density important or not? What are the implications of a decreasing vs increasing union density?
4. Discuss the impact and implications for both the worker and employer when the 'Right to request for flexible work arrangements' might be used.

Ondiscussionboard,eachtopicwillhaveathreadtowhichyouwillcontribute(minimum TWO 200 words per topic).

ReflectiveReview(40%)Select anyTWOtopics

• Submit a critical reflection via a collaborate ultra recording with your camera switched on.
• Engage in discourse via the discussion board threads - you may ask a question and invite your peers to engage in a discussion/debate/share their views ontwoofthe

topics from the list above these are the four topics that you will use for your video submission.

• You will alsorespondto any TWO threads and issues your peers raise these topics can overlap with the topics you selected; you are encouraged to challenge views but be respectful of others views;
• Provide similar/alternate perspectives and why you think these issues are important and what are the implications for doing so?
• Ask and answer key questions on ways to address the above issues;
• Deep reflection, critiquing and learning are key requirements- Avoid providing a summary of the topics or issues.

Youwillusethediscussions/debates/ideas/suggestionsfollowingfromdiscussion board to form part of your critical reflective report.

Keyareasto addressinyourcritical reflection:

1. What UNsustainable2030goal/sdoesthis(selected)topicaddress?
2. Given what you have researched and your peers views via discussion board, deeply reflect on your learning/s associated with this topic?
3. How doestheselectedtopicalignwithandaddresspovertyreduction,the decent work agenda and improve economic growth?
4. How dotheissues yourpeers raisedalign/ornot withyourvalues?
5. Do youhaveconflictingorcontroversial viewsonthis(selected)topic?Discuss
6. How mightyouapplythelearningfromthistopictotheworkplace?What would be similar or different in your application?
7. Are thereanyaspect/softhatparticularIRissuethatyou would liketosee changed or see a way forward and discuss why?
   • Video format - introduction, sub-headings and recommendation/conclusion;
   • NO abstract/executive summary is needed;
   • As this is a reflection, there is no minimum or maximum referencing requirement, howeveryou need to use academic references to justify your argument;
   • Confidentiality will be respected by the assessor where personal references are
   • Include your name and student number in the footer of the document.The assi gnment must be anoriginalpieceof work undertaken byIt is unacceptable to submit work that has beenassessed,in part or whole, in another unit, course, or program of study at this or any other tertiary institution.
   • Asapostgraduateunit,itisexpectedthatathoroughin-depth analysis will be undertaken. To cater for all students, appropriate allowances

havebeenmadeforqualitysubmissionsandareviewofassessmenttimelines.

• The assignment is to be lodged through the group folder that is available on blackboard in the side panel further details for uploading will be
• Please see the Blackboard site for details on how to access the folder and lodge your You will have the opportunity to lodge a trial/revision to check for academic integrity/plagiarism prior to your final submission.

ASSESSMENT2

GroupWorkshopFacilitation(20%)inclass

InteractiveGroupFacilitation-ContemporaryAustralianIndustrialRelations Issues aligned to workshop topics

• Groups comprising of no more than four members;
• Members will be allocated to a group to mimic workplace teams refer to blackboard for your group listing;
• The group facilitating the workshop will need to discuss the content with your tutor;
• Must be creative, interactive and encourage peer participation;
• Slides are restricted to no more than 7;
• Time management is important you are allocated 40 minutes in total, which includes set up time and questions and answers.
• This is NOT a presentation but a facilitative

The objective of this assessment is to encourage your active participation in the unit and promote shared learning. Your groupwill facilitate a discussion pertaining to a topicthatisallocatedtoyou.Prescribedreadingsareprovided.Audienceparticipation is of equal importance.

You may draw on acasehearingordebatefromthe literatureorcurrent news.Case studies based on real employment issues/hearings are encouraged. The workshop needs to explore current issues in terms of Australian industrial relations and linked to a topic that is allocated to you. Identify thechallenges needing to be addressed, why and how these challenges have arisen, and how they can be resolved or is there a way forward. Discuss best practice examples. The use of practical examples and empirical findings is important.

The workshop will be assessed on the level of interest, engagement, content and creativity.Allclassmembersareexpectedtofullyengageandparticipateasthislends itself to the reflective assessment component.

Each group will provide an outline, the learning outcomes and structure of the workshop as per the due date indicated in the unit outline. Groups must hand in all materials, slides, handouts, etc. used at the conclusion of your presentation to the lecturer.

Assessment3(40%)-

WrittenResearchReport-(wordlimit4000)

Case analysis - The purpose of this assessment is to firstly understand how the Australian IR system works and secondly to understand IR from role and perspective of the State, employee representatives and employer representatives.

Four case studies are provided for your analysis.You may choose to consider and reference other related articles in your analysis on cases that have been determined by the Australian IR tribunal.

1. Undertake an in-depth analysis of each case, the claim, defense and relevant IR regulation that applies to the case and circumstance/s.
2. Criticallyassessthedifferingviewsandwhythesematterwithreferencetothe four case studies.
3. Provide your assessment of the ruling and what this means for IR practitioners/the employer/worker/and unions (where relevant).

• Use a Report format - introduction, sub-headings and
• An executive summary (maximum 150 words) is needed and does not formpart of the word count.
• A minimum of 8 references are
• 3000wordslimit,you areallowed+/-10%overorbelowtheword
• Time New Roman or Calibri are easy to read and recommended, 12 font, 5 spacing.
• A4paperwith5cm margins(top,bottomandsidesofthepage).
• Include your name and student number in the footer of the T he assignment must be an original piece of work written by you. It is unacceptable to submit work that has been assessed, in part or whole, in another unit, course, or program of study at this or any other tertiary institution.
• Ensure your work is fully edited and proofread. As a postgraduate unit, it is expected that a thorough in depth analysis will beTo cater for all students, appropriate allowances have been made for quality submission and a review of assessment time lines.
• Turnitin submission is essential and follow the guidelines for correct referencing:http://learningcentre.curtin.edu.au/online/
• Please refer to the blackboard site for details on how to access the folder and lodge your assessment. You will have the opportunity to lodge a trial/revision to check for academic integrity/ plagiarism prior to your final submission.