Law of Employment
36 hours face to face + blended + swinburne online
One Semester or equivalent
Hawthorn, Online
Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
Overview
This unit enables students to gain an understanding of the legal framework in which the employment relationship operates from the perspective of employers and employees. Detailed attention will be given to contracts of employment, Awards, the National Employment Standards and Workplace Agreements. The unit also explores discrimination at work, workplace safety, and entitlements such as long service leave and superannuation.
Requisites
Prerequisites
150 credit points
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
07-July-2025
05-October-2025
05-October-2025
Last self-enrolment date
20-July-2025
Census date
01-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
22-August-2025
Results released date
28-October-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Demonstrate a sound knowledge of how employment law is made, whom it affects, what duties are imposed and how those duties can be enforced
- Explain the law that relates to the common law contract of employment and the legislative impact of modern awards and enterprise agreements
- Explain the responsibilities of employers and employees with respect to workplace rights and responsibilities
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
---|---|---|---|
On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
Online Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 9.50 | 12 weeks | 114 |
TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
---|---|---|---|
Assignment 1 | Individual | 10 - 20% | 1,2 |
Assignment 2 | Individual | 30 - 40% | 1,2,3 |
Case Analysis | Individual | 40 - 60% | 1,2,3 |
Content
- An introduction to the Australian legal system and the law of employment
- The coverage and development of Employment laws in Australia
- Types of employment and how that compares to an independent contract arrangement
- Special types of employment
- How an employment relationship is created and the terms of employment contracts including employee and employer duties, rights and obligations
- The relevance of Modern Awards, the National Employment Standards (NES) Workplace Agreements
- Dispute resolution and enforcement of employment conditions
- Remuneration, working hours and leave
- Discrimination and victimisation in the workplace
- Workplace safety issues
- Termination of employment contracts and remedies for wrongful, unfair and unlawful termination of employment
- A brief introduction to industrial action
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.