Specialized Studies Program in Employee Relations

Human resource management encompasses a wide range of complex responsibilities and strategic activities central to achieving a successful organizational climate and culture. The critical area of labor and employee relations requires specialists who can effectively resolve disputes and manage performance issues. Develop the techniques to become successful in the area of employee relations by expanding your knowledge of consensus building, performance evaluations and motivational methods.

Gain practical knowledge that matters

• Develop knowledge of unfair labor practices and the laws governing them.
• Learn to develop consensus, find the elegant outcome and create an effective checklist for productive and cooperative professional relationships.
• Gain skills to conduct performance appraisals that motivate employees.

Designed for professionals like you

Human resource and administrative professionals with the desire to gain a more in-depth understanding of the area of labor and employee relations or who want to update their knowledge benefit.

Specialized Studies Program Requirements

Courses may be taken individually or as part of the Specialized Studies Program in Employee Relations. Participants are awarded a certificate in Employee Relations upon the successful completion of the 9 required units of designated course work. Courses are typically offered in the evenings, to better serve the needs of working professionals. It is possible to complete this program in a year or less. Please call (530) 757-8895 for more information.

Tuition for the entire Specialized Studies Program in Employee Relations is $1,950 to $2,100, depending on when you enroll. The program application fee ($45), textbooks and parking are not included in the tuition fee.

• 3 required courses (9 units)

Quarterly schedule of courses

		UNITS	F	W	SP
REQUIRED COURSES	Introduction to Labor-Management Relations	3
	Effective Negotiation Strategies	3
	Effective Performance Management	3
F=Fall W=Winter SP=Spring SU=Summer; Schedules subject to change Classroom format

Required Courses

Introduction to Labor-Management Relations

3 quarter units academic credit, X422.1. 30 MCLE Hours, 30 HRCI Hours

Improve your understanding of current developments and best practices in labor relations. Explore the legal framework for collective negotiations in both the private and public sectors. Learn to select exclusive representatives and develop knowledge about unfair labor practices and federal and California labor-management relations laws.

Delve into strikes, scope of bargaining and the differences between the NLRB and the PERB as enforcement agencies. Also discover best practices for impasse resolution and grievance procedures.

This course is not currently scheduled.

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Effective Negotiation Strategies

3 quarter units academic credit, X422.10.

Anyone negotiating with others who have strong opinions knows how difficult it can be to reach a mutually beneficial resolution. Through the use of skill-building exercises, case studies and simulations, examine the interest-based negotiation model through practical and theorical perspectives. Focus on the interest-based process to address the different values, priorities and goals of each party. Discover how to create effective strategies and achieve win-win solutions.

Examine the principles that won President Jimmy Carter his Nobel Prize for Peace with the Camp David Accords and that create successful labor/management negotiations and enable complex multi-party, decision-making situations to be successful.

Sections of this course open for enrollment:

• Effective Negotiation Strategies    starts January 23, 2010

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Effective Performance Management

3 quarter units academic credit, X424.21. 30 HRCI Hours

One of the most critical areas of employee relationships--and one of the biggest challenges faced by management today--is conducting effective performance appraisals and determining appropriate merit increases. Learn to give performance appraisals that help motivate employees to achieve goals and increase their value to the organization. Discover how to:

• Establish performance criteria
• Use various appraisal formats
• Conduct a meaningful performance discussion
• Initiate ongoing coaching
• Avoid common mistakes made by managers in evaluating their employees
• Encourage the role of employees in preparing for performance discussions

Since both managers and employees often view performance appraisals with anxiety, attention is given to preparing for and conducting performance discussions that are objective, complete and defensible. You'll also share experiences and participate in various exercises with other participants to better understand how to obtain the best possible performance from employees.

This course is not currently scheduled.

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All courses are in classroom format.