Comparative Human Resource and Employment Relations Practices: Virtual Travel to Three…

Catalog description

The goal of this course is to provide the information and context for understanding how the HR and ER practices differ in different contexts (countries). In addition, the course will provide a nudge for the students towards a permanent shift in their mindset, that will allow them to notice these differences more easily, and eventually expect them. In the end, even though the course will be closely focusing only on three exciting countries, the aim is that students will walk out of this course with a newly gained appreciation for global cultural differences and hence notice the nuances when it comes to employees and employment on the global stage. The course starts with general introductions to cultural and institutional differences that shape HR and ER practices. Following this introduction, the course will focus on each of the three countries for a couple of weeks at a time. Each virtual country visit will start by learning some general facts about the country, interesting and relevant bits of its history, culture, customs, legal environment, food, music, and similar. Then we'll examine the typical HR and ER practices in that country, all the while aiming to understand them, and explain them, taking into consideration the specific context of that country. Finally, the culmination of the country virtual visit will be live synchronous zoom meetings with local experts in HR and/or ER fields. These opportunities to connect with local experts will give students the opportunity to directly interact, ask questions, and gain a much clearer perspective of the specific challenges and opportunities for employers and employees around the world.