Module manager: Jo Burgess
Email: J.B.Burgess@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module focuses on the key labour market actors – the state, employers and trade unions and considers social processes in the world of politics and business relevant to the world of work. It includes the analysis of the labour market changes and the politics of employment relations. The module introduces key theoretical debates in work and employment relations and addresses workplace inequalities related to social class, quality of work and pay, and migration. The module considers the role of institutions in shaping work through organisational and managerial behaviour, trade unionism and state interventions and develops understanding of the key tensions and resolutions between institutions.
The module aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills to study the world of work from an explicitly interdisciplinary perspective. It uses theoretical constructs and empirical evidence developed in the sociology of work, industrial relations, labour economics and political science in studying contemporary employment relations.
Upon completion of this module students will be able to:
- Identify and explain the role played by institutional actors in the labour market
- Recognise the significance of the state, trade unions and employers in shaping the employment relationship
- Apply theoretical and empirical knowledge in analysing labour market relationships, conflicts and inequalities
- Identify structural causes of conflict in the workplace
- Evaluate institutional approaches to employment relations and work.
Upon completion of this module students will be able to:
- communicate clearly and concisely in verbal and written communication
- utilise digital, teamworking and analytical skills to develop a presentation
- effectively manage and organise tasks independently and as part of a team in a timely manner
- utilise academic skills of information searching and critical thinking to synthesise and support arguments.
The module draws upon theoretical and empirical scholarship to identify and evaluate the role of institutions in employment relations. It engages with concepts of work from different perspectives and critically examines worker and employer strategies, trade union and state interventions. In addition, the module examines the role of institutions in workplace inequalities such as social class and migration. The module concludes with an examination of the potential changes and issues in the future of work.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Private study hours | 85 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 15 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
This could include a variety of activities, such as reading, watching videos, group work and assignment preparation.
There will be several opportunities to receive formative feedback in the development of the group presentation assessment through interaction with seminar leaders and peers. In addition, students are invited to submit a brief essay plan for the written assessment for feedback. Your teaching methods could include a variety of delivery models, such as face-to-face teaching, discussion boards and other interactive activities. There will be opportunities for formative feedback throughout the module.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation | 10 minute group presentation | 30 |
| Coursework | 1,300 word essay | 70 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The resit for this module will be 100% by 1,300 word essay.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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