You have recently been employed as a strategy and HR consultant and have been asked by your company to undertake a detailed investigation and analysis of key changes in the UK economy and labour market, and the impact of these on HR policy and practice. Your terms of reference also require you to present and analyse data on a number of issues pertaining to gender inequality in the UK labour market and British workplaces and the extent of inequality and disadvantage faced by BAME groups within the London area.
Your task is therefore to produce an in-depth formal report
The working title of the report is;
‘‘Assessing Change in the UK Economy and Inequality in the National and London Labour Markets and the Workplace : Implications for Organisations and HR Practitioners”.
Your report should be constructed in TWO SECTIONS.
In the first section of the report you should utilise research you have undertaken to identify, examine and assess, how the structure of the UK economy and labour market has changed and developed since the 1980’s highlighting what this has meant for the employment relationship, and the policies and practices of organisations and those who work in the area of HRM. You will then need to explore the labour market in more detail examining issues around labour market segmentation and what this means for gender equality. Finally, after gathering relevant data and accessing relevant theory and academic material, you will provide a critical assessment of the effectiveness of legislation in tackling gender based inequality and disadvantage in the labour market and in the workplace.
In the second section your analysis will focus more specifically on the London economy and labour market. Using data, you will provide an overview of the economy of London and the London labour market and a critical discussion of any disadvantage and inequality faced by BAME groups within the capital. You are also asked to provide an explanation for the causes of inequality and disadvantage which draws on academic and theoretical material. You are then asked to consider the future and what changes might occur in the London labour market and economy and the impact of these on organisations and HR. Finally, you will offer an informed opinion on what skills, knowledge and competencies HR practitioners will need to possess and demonstrate given the issues you have identified and discussed in the previous sections of the report.
The terms of reference require that you ensure the following key areas are addressed within your report
Section One.
• Produce a detailed overview of developments and changes in the UK economy and labour market since 1980 and the driving forces behind these. Discuss how these changes and developments have influenced organisations, HR policies and practices and the employment relationship.
• Utilising data you have collected and academic and theoretical material, critically discuss the extent that the workplace and labour market in the UK is segmented by gender. In your discussion you should examine issues relating to the gendering of work roles, present information on gender pay differentials and examine the evidence that a ‘glass ceiling’ exists which hinders female career progression and opportunities in the workplace.
• Critically assess how effective HR policy and equality legislation has been in ensuring gender equality in the workplace. Provide evidence and reasons for reported success or lack of progress and provide examples of effective organisational initiatives in this area.
Section Two
• Undertake a critical review of the London economy and labour market identifying its key features and characteristics and the extent of BAME inequality and disadvantage within this region. Using theoretical and academic material, provide explanations why BAME groups may be faced with inequality of opportunity and inequality of outcomes.
• Outline what you believe will be key future developments in the London economy and labour market (next five years) and discuss the implications of these for London based organisations, HR practitioners and those involved in designing policy for London.
• An assessment of whether the ‘London context’, future developments and the extent of inequality you have identified, will require London based HR practitioners to acquire or develop any particular skills, competencies or specialist knowledge if they are to be effective and valued in their organisations.
It is expected that the report will draw on accurate, recent and appropriate data, as well as relevant concepts, theories, practitioner and academic materials to describe and analyse the developments in the UK and London labour markets. You may also utilise diagrammatic representations and appendices within your report if they add weight and depth to your arguments and analysis, but please make sure these are cross referenced effectively. The word count for the assignment is 2,500 words although if this was to go up to a maximum of 2.900 words (in the main body), this would not be deemed excessive.
This assignment will require:
• The construction of a formal report
• Evidence of extensive and in-depth research. This should draw on academic, empirical and practitioner materials.
• Clear lines of argument and analysis which are fully supported and evidenced.
• Appropriate structure, presentation and expression
• Conclusions and suggestions to be supported by the arguments and evidence presented
• Appropriate citing within the text and a reference list which utilises the Harvard conventions of referencing. This applies to printed and electronic sources of information.
