Employment Law
Introduction
&
Sources of Employment Law
1
, Employment Law
Aims of the course and learning outcomes:
▪ Wide subject coverage
▪ Statute/common law/ EU Law
▪ The employment relationship
▪ Practical and commercial approach to resolving issues
▪ Statutory rights
2
, Employment Law
Wider Context
Employer Employee
Trade Union
▪ Historical ‘master’ vs ‘servant’ relationship
▪ Move from agriculture to industrialisation
▪ Decline in the manufacturing industry
▪ Growth of retail, media and financial services
▪ Growth of larger regional, national and international operations
▪ Privatisation of former public services
▪ Globalisation
3
, Employment Law
Before the 1960s > 1970s
» Very little protection for workers and an imbalance in
bargaining power
» The employment relationship was, generally, a private
contractual relationship
» State kept out of the employment relationship
» Growth of Trade Unions to prevent abuse by employers
4
, Employment Law
Early Legal Developments
1965: Redundancy Payments
1971: Unfair Dismissal
1974: Health and Safety at Work
1975/6: Sex and Race Discrimination, Equal Pay and
Maternity Rights
1980s: Collective Labour Law
But this was not enough?
5
Introduction
&
Sources of Employment Law
1
, Employment Law
Aims of the course and learning outcomes:
▪ Wide subject coverage
▪ Statute/common law/ EU Law
▪ The employment relationship
▪ Practical and commercial approach to resolving issues
▪ Statutory rights
2
, Employment Law
Wider Context
Employer Employee
Trade Union
▪ Historical ‘master’ vs ‘servant’ relationship
▪ Move from agriculture to industrialisation
▪ Decline in the manufacturing industry
▪ Growth of retail, media and financial services
▪ Growth of larger regional, national and international operations
▪ Privatisation of former public services
▪ Globalisation
3
, Employment Law
Before the 1960s > 1970s
» Very little protection for workers and an imbalance in
bargaining power
» The employment relationship was, generally, a private
contractual relationship
» State kept out of the employment relationship
» Growth of Trade Unions to prevent abuse by employers
4
, Employment Law
Early Legal Developments
1965: Redundancy Payments
1971: Unfair Dismissal
1974: Health and Safety at Work
1975/6: Sex and Race Discrimination, Equal Pay and
Maternity Rights
1980s: Collective Labour Law
But this was not enough?
5
