Course Catalogue

Liverpool Business School

This module will use ‘lived history’ case studies to demonstrate how history and sociology has impacted on HR practice and employee legislation. It will recognise the significance of the EU, state, trade union and employers and how they have historically shaped the contemporary employment relationship. It will explore how politics has sculptured HR practice over the decades and review who are the key actors/agencies. This will cover the differing influences opposing political parties have had on the UK and EU and how this has impacted on organisations, HR and the population.

Outline Syllabus:
Introduction: concepts of work in history of social change
Governments; actors, stakeholders and agencies and the impact these have on organisations and HR
Opposing political parties and the influences on HR
The significance of the EU to organisations and HR.
The formation and growth of employee voice
The role of trade unions and employers in shaping the employment relationship
The role of the individuals in influencing working conditions
Individual reformers who have championed changing attitudes in the workplace

Module Overview:
An opportunity to learn about the context of HR through lived histories