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Unit details

  • Core unit
  • Level 7
  • 12 credits

The module will provide learners with the key principles that underpin UK (or Irish) and EU employment law, their purpose, the major defences that employers are able to deploy when defending cases, and the potential organisational costs and reputational risks associated with losing them.  Moreover, the focus is on situations that occur relatively regularly in workplaces rather than on more uncommon or obscure legal scenarios and on advanced knowledge of legislation or case law.

Employment law continues to expand both in terms of volume and complexity and the amount of regulation covering the employment relationship and the workplace has grown substantially in recent years, including additional duties placed on public bodies to actively promote equality.  While organisations can source specialist advice on more complex and unprecedented issues from legal advisers, senior HR professionals need to be sufficiently aware of major, current and coming developments in the regulatory environment to ensure organisations are fully prepared and also able to anticipate legal problems associated with proposed decisions or plans before they are implemented.  In the context of increasing numbers of claims to employment tribunals, they take a leading role in handling issues and disputes at work and in leading an organisation’s response when a formal legal claim is contemplated or pursued, including preparing and presenting responses to employment tribunal claims and they need to fulfill each of these requirements to a professional standard. The module promotes critical reflection on theory and practice from an ethical and professional standpoint and provides opportunities for applied learning and continuous professional development.

 This module is suitable for persons who:

  • have responsibility for human resource (HR) decision making within an organisation at either operational, tactical or more strategic level

  • are HR professionals in a team or HR functional management role who are seeking to enhance and develop their career

  • have responsibilities for the HR function and activities within an organisation without a specialist function

  • are independent or employed consultants who support organisations in meeting their goals

  • have HR career and CIPD professional membership aspirations.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module learners will be able to:

  • Explain the core principles that underpin employment law as it applies in the UK (or Ireland), including common law, their purpose, origin and practical implications.

  • Advise colleagues about significant legal implications of decisions, plans or proposals in the employment field.

  • Advise about the appropriate action that should be taken in workplace scenarios where employment regulation applies.

  • Play a leading role in determining the appropriate organisational response when legal action on the part of a worker or employee is anticipated, threatened or taken.

  • Participate in the preparation, presentation and settling of employment tribunal cases.

  • Know how to keep their knowledge of developments in employment law up to date and advise about the impact of these developments on employment policy and practice in their organisations.

How is This Course Delivered?

This course is delivered in a number of ways. Our mixed-mode approach offers true flexibility giving you the opportunity to choose where, when and how you learn. For example, you could attend a 1-day workshop that is delivered in central London. Alternatively you can work directly with one of our advisers as they support your development with one-to-one guidance tailored to your individual learning needs. Candidates will also have access to materials and resources on our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

How is This Course Assessed?

We are also flexible in the way we assess you. You can either complete an assignment or use one of work-based evidence templates.

Course no longer available

Please click below for details about a suitable alternative.

See current qualifications