Author: Mike Leat
Price: £25.99
Publisher: Elsevier
Pages: 464
ISBN: 075066939
This book is designed to be a straightforward introduction to employment relations for anyone approaching the subject for the first time or studying for a qualification. But don’t expect an employment law manual, as it focuses on the issues around the employment relationship.
Each of the 11 chapters sets out its learning objectives at the start, with a summary and a set of activities to test the reader’s understanding at the end of each chapter.
The first chapter, on employee relations and the employment relationship, sets out a rather daunting list of learning objectives, which I would find rather off-putting if I was studying the subject for the first time. Other chapters have a more manageable and realistic number of objectives, but the layout, style and language of all the chapters are user-friendly.
Material on equality, managing diversity and corporate social responsibility is incorporated into different chapters, and particularly in the section devoted to the European Union.
Gender and equal pay are covered in more detail than race or disability, while other issues such as age are hardly mentioned at all.
While this isn’t a book on case law, this is still an omission when looking at the European employment context. Nevertheless, this book is still fit for purpose – a good, solid textbook.
Useful? Three out of five stars
Well-written? Four out of five stars
Practical? Four out of five stars
Inspirational? Two out of five stars
Value for money? Three out of five stars
Overall? Three out of five stars
Reviewed by John Nicholson, head of staff diversity and equality, HM Prison Service
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
Tell us about your favourite book…
Personnel Today will soon be launching a new Careerwise slot profiling HR professionals’ best books and training products that have helped them in their careers. Send us your favourites and tell us how you were inspired. E-mail [email protected]
