This module considers the characteristics of modern employment law relating to individuals. It looks at the characteristics of a contract of employment and issues relating to claims for breach of contract, unfair dismissal and redundancy. It also examines discrimination legislation relating to employment rights, and how the law has developed ‘family-friendly’ rights to employees. This module will be of interest if you’re seeking to develop your experience and understanding, or if you’ve taken Understanding law (W200), as it builds upon skills developed in that module. The module deals principally with the law of England and Wales.
What you will study
This is a 30-credit module suitable for study if you have an interest in the area of employment law and practice. W221 is suitable for study if you already have a good knowledge of the English legal system and method, and may be of particular interest if you have already taken Understanding law (W200) or an introductory OU law module, which has introduced you to the English legal system but not to online legal research.
The module considers the development and characteristics of the modern employment relationship. It explores the rules that have developed to distinguish an employee from other workers, the formation of the contract of employment, terms of a contract of employment, the consequences of a breach of the contract of employment and the available remedies. Also considered are the rules relating to claims for wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal and statutory redundancy. Statutory rights of individual employees, such as protection from different forms of discrimination and the provision of family-friendly rights have recently been consolidated and strengthened and the module covers developments in this area. Employment law is heavily influenced by the EU and social policy and their impact on the growth of this dynamic area is also considered. In addition to this knowledge and understanding you will be provided with the opportunity to develop a range of associated skills including:
- the basic principles of drafting the terms of a contract of employment
- organise and assimilate legal, numerical and factual material and provide reasoned advice about such material
- problem solving by identifying material facts and legal issues, applying legal principles and exceptions to find solutions
- distinguish similar factual situations by reference to legal principles
- identify issues which require researching and use paper and electronic primary and secondary legal resources.
Entry
This is an OU level 2 module and you will need the study skills required for this level of study, which may have been obtained either from OU level 2 study or from another university.
While this module can be studied on a stand-alone basis it assumes that you already have knowledge and understanding of the English legal system. We strongly advise you to study both an introductory OU law module (if you are a non-graduate) and have taken Understanding law (W200) (now discontinued) before starting this OU level 2 module.
Please note that W221 covers online legal research which is not taught at OU level 1 but was covered in W200.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
Outside the UK
Please note that this module is only concerned with the law of England and Wales.
Qualifications
W221 is an optional module in our:
This module may count towards your LLB degree as part of the free-choice element. It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability
The written study material is available in a comb-bound format. The study materials (excluding text books) may be available on CD-ROM in PDF format. Some components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. You will need to spend time using a personal computer and the internet.
Study materials
What's included
Two module manuals, a case book. Access to a module website that offers forums, resources for learning, news items and access, via the OU library, to legal databases for research purposes.
The study materials are updated annually, but it may be necessary to update during your study of the module if there is a major (and unexpected) change to the law.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor with whom you can communicate by email, telephone and post, who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. Your tutor will also run online tutorials that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to take part in. You will probably have about 25 hours of such tuition.
Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and end-of-module assessment (EMA) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment or EMA on paper.
The end-of-module assessment (EMA) is a project.
Future availability
The details given here are for the module that starts in October 2016, when we expect it to be available for the final time.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our
Student Policies and Regulations website.