MSLV4700 Labour Law in Change Processes Course description

The course covers labour law problematisation with particular relevance to reorganisation and change processes. Employers' need for flexibility and change is seen in light of employees' need for protection and predictability. Changes measures can vary in nature and scope. The course takes the legal framework that an employment contract entails as its point of departure, and problematises change needs relating to the individual employee, reorganisation related to the whole enterprise or parts of it, rationalisation and workforce reductions, and changes that lead to transfer of duties or activities to another employer. In addition to relevant legislation and collective agreements, emphasis is also placed on relevant rulings. Connections are drawn to decisions of the EU Court of Justice. The course will focus on the public sector.

Language of instruction is Norwegian.

None

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• advanced knowledge of demarcations relating to the concept of employee and temporary employment

• in-depth knowledge of employers' managerial prerogative as a legal concept and of statutory and non-statutory boundaries relating to this discretion

• in-depth knowledge of which rules apply in relation to reorganisation and workforce reductions

• specialised insight into the rules on business transfer

Skills

The student is capable of

• identifying and analysing legal issues in the relationship between employer and employee in change processes

• applying the legal method and understanding and analysing key rulings relating to reorganisation and change

General competence

The student is capable of

• disseminating the results of extensive independent work and writing reports, submitting professional reports and giving oral presentations as forms of communication

Teaching is in the form of lectures, student presentations, discussions, group work, seminars and assignments. A high degree of independent activity is expected in the course. The teaching will mainly be problem-based using examples and cases from the students' practical experiences. Literature and studies of rulings are main components of the teaching sessions.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Coursework 1: Knowledge test 1
• Coursework 2: Knowledge test 2
• Coursework 3: Knowledge test 3

The knowledge tests are short tests (5-20 questions) that must be answered after each teaching session. 

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If one or more coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given the opportunity to submit an improved version by the given deadline.

The exam in the course is a report that can be submitted individually or in groups of up to three students. The report can be up to 10 pages long. The front page, table of contents and literature list is not included when the number of pages is calculated. Font and font size: Arial/Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5.

Students will choose a practical labour law issue themselves within the framework of the thematic content of the course. 

Students awarded a fail grade are given one opportunity to submit an improved version of the report for assessment.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

At least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.