Question: Considering the last decade in the UK, has the UK government provided more or less protection to the labour market? Why? Evaluate the different roles of the government in relation to the labour market in the UK

• Considering the last decade in the UK, has the UK government provided more or less protection to the labour market? Why? Evaluate the different roles of the government in relation to the labour market in the UK (e.g., guarantor of employment rights, employer, redistributor, and arbitrator).

• Assess the role of the employer in the employment relationship. What is the nature of the competing interests between employers and workers? To respond to this question, draw on the material regarding “the financialization of the business model” to discuss some of the strategies implemented by firms to increase their revenues and the implications of these strategies on the workers’ employment conditions.

• Critically assess whether the decline in labour disputes through strike actions in the UK means that conflict in the employment relationship is declining. What are some of the factors that have influenced the decline in strike actions? Support your argument through examples of labour disputes in the UK in the last decade.

• Critically assess whether the rising trend towards more flexible employment inevitably entails employment insecurity and a transfer of risk from employers to employees. To respond to this question, compare and contrast evidence from two labour markets (e.g., labour markets in two different countries).

• What are some of the current challenges in the development of policies to enhance equality and diversity in the workplace? To respond to this question, assess the three theoretical perspectives analysed in class in relation to equality (the liberal, radical, and the business case approach).

Advice and Guidance:

• You should write a 1,650 words at least
• You need to submit your individual essay in week 15 (maximum date is 12^th of January at 10:00pm)
• The following are some of the points that you are expected to cover for each of the questions.
  1. For question 1 you are expected to present and describe the theoretical approach that best captures policymaking in the UK in the last decade (e.g., Keynesian approach, neoliberal approach). You should also present specific examples of policies developed after 2010 and their implications for the labour market. Also, you should cover whether there is any relation between policies developed after 2010 and of previous governments (e.g., governments in the UK between 1980 and 2010).

2. For question 2 you are expected to describe the different roles of employers and clearly present the nature of the struggle in the employment relationship. You are also expected to present the differences between the “financialization business model” and the “managerial business model”, detailed examples of strategies under the former model (e.g., merges and acquisitions), and their implications for the employment relationship.

3. For question 3 you are expected to describe and analyse the “Balloon hypothesis”. You are also expected to clearly present the different factors that have influenced the decline of strike action in the UK since 1980s (e.g., political ideologies) and assess whether during this time there has been an increase in other forms of expressions of labour discontent (e.g., employment tribunal cases). You need to support your answer through examples of labour disputes in the UK.

4. For question 4 you are expected to describe the change from a “traditional” form of employment (e.g., full-time and permanent) towards more flexible working hours and the factors that have influenced this change (e.g., the de-regulation of the market). You are also expected to cover why some workers choose to work flexible hours and the implications that these working arrangements have on their living standards.

5. For question 5 you are expected to describe, analyse, and present the limitations of the three theoretical approaches related to equality and diversity in the working place. You should present examples of practices implemented by organisations to improve equality in the working place and to assess the limitations of these practices. You need to clearly state how your selected examples relate to the three theoretical approaches.

• Regardless of the question you choose to answer, you are expected to cover the following points:
  1. A discussion of the social impacts/implications of the issue.
  2. How does the issue affect the development and functioning of labour markets?
  3. Controversies around the topic supported in literature and in the evidence.
  4. You are expected to illustrate and support your arguments with specific and detailed examples.
  5. You are expected to balance the structure of your essay. Give sufficient space to discuss the issue as well as the implications of the latter.
  6. You are expected to provide in your conclusion policymaking suggestions on how to address the problem. These suggestions need to be grounded in the evidence provided and in literature.
  7. You should use the conceptual and analytical tools delivered in the lectures and seminars, in addition to any readings/materials you consider relevant.
  8. You should engage with the different approaches and theories discussed during your course. You should identify different arguments and discuss them developing your own point of view. Your discussion and position in the debate should be grounded in existing literature and arguments.
  9. Finally, you are free to choose the structure of your essay. However, a good essay should contain some basic sections such as an abstract, introduction, main body, and conclusions.