Labour Law and Industrial Relations in Great Britain

Historically, Great Britain was the 'workshop of the world', as an exporter of labour. As liberal capitalism grew from the 1850s, the great British regulatory frameworks also began in the workplace. Consequently, since the 1960s employers, employees and their representatives alike have sought to understand, clarify and utilize the principles which make up labour law in the British workplace.

This monograph, part of the renowned International Encyclopaedia on Industrial Relations & Labour Law series, provides an analysis of the facets of laws governing the workplace in Great Britain. Whilst examining both UK Governmental employment initiatives and the EU's pervasive social policies, a pathway guiding the reader towards the underlying notions, concepts and principles will be given. More significantly, an explanation of the phases of labour law from the laissez-faire to the regulatory, to the decentralized and towards more recently, Blair's vision of 'third way' solutions, including new dispute resolution regimes, shall be provided. However, more importantly during this journey, the reader will be exposed to the contemporary key issues in British labour:

• who is an employee?;
• what contractual rights/obligations exist?;
• what forms of discrimination prevail?;
• how are employees safeguard from dismissal?;
• what collective rights are permitted?;
• and, what forms of legal redress apply?

To that end, this edition covers the reforms brought about by the Dispute Resolution Regulations 2004 (brought in compliance with the Employment Act 2002), the Disability Discrimination (Amendment) Act 2006, the Children & Families Act 2006, the revised Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, and the Employment Equality (Age Discrimination) Regulations 2006. Above all, what will be demonstrated is that in terms of labour law, Great Britain stands apart in its approach, principles and common law system handling strife in the workplace.

Author: Stephen Hardy LLB PhD FRSA MCIArb is an internationally recognized scholar; practising Barrister; government advisor; arbitrator; and lecturer/commentator/trainer in labour law.