EMPR 100: Introduction to Employment Relations

Fall 2023
Final Reflection Paper
This assignment builds on the reflection posts in the discussion forums and the presentations
by the guest speakers in our Professional Practice Thursday activities. The focus of the final
paper will be to reflect on the connections between course materials, guest speakers and the
challenge questions they posed to you during their talks.
Steps
Step 1: Select two (2) of the guest speakers from our Professional Practice Thursday activities.
We have posted recordings of the talks in the Course Timeline.

Speaker & Video Link Affiliation Challenge Question

Week 3: Working Lives – (Netflix segment Based on one of the three workers
Video clip from Netflix accessible through featured, what struck you the most
series ‘Working’ September 21 recorded about their experience with work and
lecture.) concepts in the course?

Week 4 Historical Director of Human An employee shares an image on

Perspectives – Yancy Resources, OneSky social media as part of a team building
Ochoa Community Resources activity in the organization. The
employee was well intentioned, but
one of their co-workers found the
post to be racist and hurtful. How
should an HR leader handle this
situation?

Week 5: Changing nature Employee Relations & Should there be laws that compel
of work – Daniel Powell Workforce Abilities employers that everyone doing the
Consultant, St. Lawrence same job gets the same pay?
College

Week 6: Theories of Harmony Mediation & How do you make sense of theories in
work – Rathika Consulting, Professor employment relations in these three
Sitsabaiesan Centennial College dimensions?
Awareness
Accessibility
Audience
Week 7: Employment Sherrard Kuzz Labour & When comparing the fact pattern to
Law - Ann Price Employment Law Firm the criteria outlined in Hart, would
you consider this a reasonable offer of
employment?
Based on your decision for question 1,
and the language of O Reg 288, would
the employee in our fact pattern be
owed notice and severance pay if they
rejected this alternative offer of
employment and their original
position was no longer available?

Week 8: Human Human Resource Pennecon is attempting to bring on

Resource Management – Advisor, Pennecon more Indigenous people to this Pointe
Alex Gibson du bois Construction Project, given
the constraint and barriers below,
what would be some creative
recruitment initiatives?

Week 9: Labour Canadian Association of Labour relations scenario

Relations – Catherine University Teachers What are the obligations of the
Wright employer?
How could this be unjust to the
offender?
How could this be unjust to the
employee?

Week 10: Government Retired Assistant Deputy Instead of, or in addition to, proactive
Regulation – Anthony Minister (Policy, Dispute pay equity, what else could and
Giles Resolution and should governments do to close the
International Affairs) gender wage gap?

Week 11: Gig Work – Gig Workers United (Will post the challenge question after
Jennifer Scott (Canadian Union of the talk.)
Postal Workers)

Week 12: Equity, Inclusive Kind (Will post the challenge question after
Diversity, and inclusion – the talk.)
Gabby Zuniga
Step 2: Review the challenge question(s) posed by the guest speakers you selected. The
challenge questions are summarized above, but we encourage you to review the recorded
sessions posted in OnQ.
Step 3: Identify readings and course materials that contributed to answering the challenge
questions posed by the selected guest speakers. Course materials include the readings,
podcasts, and recorded lectures.
There is no required number of course materials that must be referenced in the final paper, but
application of relevant course concepts is one of the main criteria in the assignment’s
evaluation rubric.
Step 4: Do not provide a descriptive summary of your previous answer to the challenge
questions, although you may refer to it as part of your reflections. Instead, critically analyze
your reflections and learnings in relation to the challenge questions for each guest speaker. The
following points of consideration can help you generate ideas about what to write about and
how to organize the content of your paper:
• Demonstrate and critically reflect on your learning in the course related to each speaker
and the related challenge question. Reference course materials and concepts as part of
this reflection.
• What did you find to be the most important concepts or ideas presented in the readings
or course materials related to the selected speakers and their challenge question?
• What did you find challenging or what did you disagree with the guest speakers and
why?
• How might you apply what you have learned in a work context?
Step 4: Draft an introduction and conclusion for the paper. The introduction should include a
thesis statement. For example, the thesis statement could identify what you think were your
main learning outcomes from the course. Complete writing the body of the paper and submit
the final version to the assignment drop box in OnQ.

Requirements
Date Due: The due date for the final reflection is December 15, 2022 by 11:59 PM.
Length: Four (4) to six (6) pages, double spaced, with normal margins (2.54 cm), and default
font size (11 or 12 pt) and style (Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, etc.).
References: To demonstrate that the reflection paper connects the key issues to the themes
from the course readings, use appropriate academic citations. The Queen's library website has
a detailed guide on citing sources. The field of employment relations does not have a specific
reference style, however, the APA (American Psychological Association) is common. You may
use any preferred style, but the style should be used consistently and used appropriately.
Thesis statement: How did course concepts and materials help you analyze and answer the
challenge questions? The answer to this question could serve as the thesis statement for your
report.
Structure: The paper should have a standard structure: introduction, body, and conclusion.
Even if you have had extensive experience writing papers, the writing resources in the Student
Academic Success Services (SASS) provides valuable support to all levels of writing experience.
You will find descriptions of developing thesis statements, organizing the essay body, and other
core and advanced writing tips. Peer support services and other writing and academic supports
are also available from SASS.
Evaluation Criteria
The criteria used to evaluate the paper is presented in the rubric below. Be sure to review the
rubric to see the expectations for the various levels of assessment.
Criteria Level 5 Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Level 0

Course Paper skillfully draws on Paper draws on relevant Paper draws on some Paper draws on few Paper draws on few Non submission
concepts (40%) relevant course concepts course concepts to course concepts to relevant course concepts relevant course of evidence
to substantiate analysis support the analysis and support some of the to support some of the concepts AND
and key points to key points to analysis and key points analysis and key points to misinterprets how these
demonstrate mastery of demonstrate good to demonstrate demonstrate some concepts support the
the intended learning command of the satisfactory understanding of the analysis and key points.
outcome. intended learning understanding of the intended learning
outcomes. intended learning outcomes.
outcomes.

Critical Reviews recent learning Reviews recent learning Reviews recent learning Reviews recent learning Restates topics from the Non submission
Reflections of in depth to reveal in depth, revealing fully with some depth, at a surface level, without readings without of evidence
Intended significantly challenged clarified meanings or revealing slightly revealing clarified analyzing or reflecting
Learning or changed perspectives indicating broader clarified meanings or meaning or indicating a on the meaning.
Outcomes and about work, which perspectives about work indicating a somewhat broader perspective
Guest Speakers provide foundation for and employment broader perspectives about work or
expanded knowledge, relations. about work and employment relations.
(40%)
growth, and maturity employment relations.
over time.

Student's Specific position (thesis) Specific position (thesis) Specific position (thesis) Specific position (thesis) Specific position (thesis) Non submission
position is imaginative, taking takes into account the acknowledges different is stated, but is simplistic is vaguely implied but of evidence
(Thesis) (10%) into account the complexities of an issue. sides of an issue. and obvious. not stated.
complexities of an issue.
Others' points of view
Limits of position (thesis) are acknowledged
are acknowledged. within position (thesis).

Quality of Superior quality, Good quality, Parts of the report Little evidence of quality, Report is very difficult to Non submission
writing and organization, cohesion, organization, cohesion demonstrate quality, organization, and clarity understand due to of evidence
writing and clarity of writing. and clarity of writing. organization, and clarity in writing. problems with writing
mechanics of writing. quality, organization,
and clarity.
(10%)