Workplace Policies and Governance

EMPR 240/3.0

Overview

The rapidly accelerating pace of market, economic, and technological change in our increasingly globalized world present many challenges to the contemporary Canadian workplace.  How do we ensure that resources are channeled to their most productive uses, while reducing the impact that such adjustment might have on displaced workers?  How do we enable employers to organize their workplaces to increase efficiency while safeguarding workers from the potential occupational hazards and injuries of production?  How do we ensure that workers are not discriminated against based on immutable characteristics given that the Canadian workplace is more diverse than ever?  This course examines the manners in which employers, employees, and governments seek to resolve or mitigate workplace problems such as those above.  Through the aid of workplace policies and governance, it is hoped that Canadian workplaces maximize their productivity while delivering fairness to its workforce. 

This course involves teamwork, which strengthens sought-after transferable skills, including communication, relationship building, adaptability, conflict resolution, and more. Students will be asked to work with peers on graded assessments and will be expected to collaborate synchronously. Students can expect to be graded individually, as a group, and by peers on individual and group submissions. Queen’s University and the teaching team are committed to supporting students with strategies to succeed in a team-based setting. 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be better equipped to:

  • Describe the evolution and roles of workplace policies in Canada over the past century;
  • Critically evaluate the main features and elements of contemporary workplace policy in Canada, including the major legislation and government programs that relate to employment relations and work;
  • Interpret the main types of employment legislation and their core elements, and explain how they affect employees, employers, and employment relations;
  • Identify the main types of government labour market and workplace programs and analyze their main features, intended purpose, expected effects; and
  • Apply the key principles of workplace policies and governance that are relevant to employment relations and work.

Topics at a Glance

Module 1 - Introduction to Public Policy & Workplace Policy

Module 2 - The Main perspectives on Evolution of Workplace Policy in Canada

Module 3 - Combatting Inequality & Unfirness: Wage Regulation in Canada

Module 4 - Working Time & Dismissal Regulation

Module 5 - Health, Safety & Injury in the Canadian Workplace

Module 6 - Human Rights in the Workplace

Module 7 - Passive Labour Market Policy - (Un)Employment Insurance

Module 8 - Activer Labour Market Policy - Adjustment & Training

Module 9 - Labour Relations Policy in Canada

Module 10 - Constitutional Rights: The Charter and it's Impact on Labour Policy

Module 11 - Workplace Policy

Testimonials

  • “I appreciate the podcasts…[they] are right to the point, clear, quick, and concise.”
  • “I enjoyed the course and found the teaching team highly dedicated to my success.”
  • “The games were fun.”