Employment Law unit (LAW308)

Introduction

The relationship between employer and employee lies at the heart of economic activity. In this unit, you will explore the ways in which this relationship is governed in order to protect vulnerable workers from unfair conditions, and employers from unjustified industrial action. You will examine individual and collective aspects of the employment relationship with a focus on whether the common law and statutory regulation of employment law strikes an appropriate balance between rights and duties of employers and employees. You will also consider traditional and non-traditional forms of employment and independent contacting, sham contracting, the casualisation of the Australian workforce and the so-called “gig economy”. There will be significant focus on the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), especially in relation to the national employment standards (NES), modern awards, adverse action, protections for vulnerable workers, unfair dismissal and unlawful termination, and enterprise bargaining and industrial action. State and federal laws dealing with discrimination and work health and safety are also considered.

Mark Rinaldi and Lucy Line are co-coordinators for this unit.

Summary

Unit name	Employment Law
Unit code	LAW308
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Arts and Society Faculty of Law
Discipline	Law
Coordinator	Mr Mark Rinaldi
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Advanced

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Learning Outcomes

• Identify issues involving labour law and describe and explain relevant principles and rules
• Apply knowledge of labour law to solve hypothetical scenarios giving rise to labour law issues, and to critique the operation of such laws
• Locate primary and secondary resources to develop legal arguments and conclusions with relevant applicable law
• Communicate legal argument and critical legal analysis, clearly and effectively, independently and in groups

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

50 credit points of Intermediate Law core or (LAW121 and LAW122)

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

LAW603

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Unit taught as a summer school intensive over two weeks.
Assessment	Online quiz (10%)|Take home Exam (40%)|Research Assignment (50%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.