The course is worth one full-year credit and is contingent on adequate enrolment. Students are not permitted to register for more than one course.
Classes will take place Monday to Thursday from approximately 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Field trips will occur during scheduled class time AND outside of class time. A detailed schedule will be available at the time of admission.
IRE332Y0 Historical British Industrial and Cultural Influences on the Contemporary Workplace
The influence of British law, governance and culture on modern-day work is significant. Through understanding British history and with a focus on the Industrial Revolution, this course will explore these influences. The first three weeks of study will consider the impact of the major stakeholders of the employment relationship: 1. Workers & Trade Unions, 2. Employers & Capital, 3. Governance & Culture. Using these perspectives and critical insight, the fourth week will integrate the British experience into a meaningful understanding of today’s worker experience.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Appreciate the complexities and main features of British Culture, Governance and Workplace Ethos as shaped by the Industrial Revolution.
- Study the major stakeholders of the employment relationship: 1. Workers & Trade Unions, 2. Employers & Capital, 3. Governance & Culture.
- Draw conclusions about the impact British historical events have had on the modern workplace.
Prerequisite: None
Breadth Requirement = Society and Its Institutions (category 3)
Preliminary Course Outline - 2024
Field Trips
Students will have a two-day field trip to Bath and Tolpuddle, where they will visit sites such as Stonehenge and the Roman Baths. Students will also visit the London Dockland Museum, Palace of Westminster and British Museum in London; Crabble Corn Mill, and Dover Castle in Dover; and Bishop's Shortford Town Market and river tour in Cambridge. The cost of these trips is CAD $1580, paid to U of T for all fees, one-night accommodation in Bath and return bus transportation.
Instructor
Bob Thompson lectures on Employment and Labour Law, Negotiations, Industrial Relations, and Collective Bargaining to UofT undergraduate and graduate students as well at other institutions in Toronto. As an engaging instructor, he understands that education extends beyond the classroom and his genuine goal is to make the learning experience memorable, enjoyable, and inclusive for all students. As a practical instructor, Bob gained experience in human resources, labour relations and workplace law. Prior to joining academia, Bob was Senior Employment Law Counsel at Canada’s largest financial institution, Manager of Labour Relations at Canada’s largest grocery retailer, articling lawyer at Canada’s largest litigation law firm, and co-op engineering student at Canada’s largest automotive manufacturer. For nine years he was an active board member of Ontario’s regulator of Human Resources Professions. Bob is a graduate of the LLM Program in ADR at Osgoode Hall Law School, he obtained his joint LLB/MBA degree at the University of Ottawa, an MBA at Kent University in Canterbury, England, and his Industrial Engineering Degree at Kettering University in Michigan.