Where's the ‘Human’ in Human Resource Management?

"This innovative and refreshing new HRM textbook takes the point of view of workers who experience HRM rather than that of managers who are trying to implement it." Adrian Wilkinson, Griffith University

"At last, an open-eyed and honest account of human resource management in contemporary society! This book dismantles the false binary between HRM and employment relations, which prevails in so many business schools, and shows why a sociological analysis of control and conflict in the employment relationship is essential. Gold and Smith provide a stylish and authoritative account, arguing that HRM is fundamentally shaped by labour cost and productivity pressures. The book threads through all the big contemporary issues of global labour market trends, digital technologies and inequalities, and also explores changing attitudes towards worker engagement, home working and fulfilling work. The stimulating company examples of HR practice provide further urgent and compelling reasons for students and practitioners to try to put the human back into HRM before it is too late!" Damian Grimshaw, King's College London

"This is a highly stimulating book that provides structured knowledge about HRM, but at the same time makes academics and practitioners think outside of the box. The analyses and practical examples cover the core topics of HR strategy, as well as issues that are too seldom dealt with in textbooks, such as workplace conflicts or the potential and dangers of new technologies like artificial intelligence and HR analytics." Martin Krzywdzinski, WZB Berlin Social Science Center

"An attractive mix of traditional topics, contemporary cases and innovative content that places HRM into its wider context. This textbook will be a valuable resource for students and tutors." Paul Thompson, University of Stirling

“Where’s the ‘Human’ in Human Resource Management? makes a unique and vital contribution to understanding how HRM is experienced rather than just delivered. This theoretically sophisticated but accessible textbook provides insights essential for students’ understanding of the contemporary workplace.” Abigail Marks, Newcastle University

“This is a thought-provoking textbook with interesting real-life examples, enriched by the authors’ insightful analysis of the key trends in human resource management. It highlights the importance of the human aspect of human resource management amidst ever innovative ways of labour control and persistent pursuit of productivity. It is a highly valuable text for everyone who practises or experiences human resource management.” Fang Lee Cooke, Monash University

"A timely and fresh approach to understanding the management of the human resource in today’s world. It is rigorously argued, meticulously researched and accessibly written, with principles illuminated in practical application. An excellent, essential text." Jean Jenkins, Cardiff University

"Tired of reading the same old HRM textbooks written in the 20th century? Then Where's the ‘Human’ in Human Resource Management? will be a thoroughly exciting and refreshing read. This book provides a bang up-to-date, provocative and passionate account of what is happening in the contemporary workplace. This is essential reading for students who want to better understand their place and future in the world of work." Huw Thomas, University of Bristol

"Michael Gold and Chris Smith have written a thought-provoking analysis of contemporary HRM that is solidly grounded in the dynamics of the employment relationship. The result is an analysis that goes far deeper than that found in most HR texts, and which allows current issues in the domain to be more fully understood. A must-read for anyone interested in the world of work." Keith Whitfield, Cardiff University

“A timely reminder to put the 'human' back in human resource management! Written in a highly engaging style and with abundant contemporary international case studies, this book is essential reading for students on a wide range of management and HRM courses.” Katie Bailey, King’s College London

“A very good textbook on the changes to modern management and the impact of the future of work on how we teach about new workplaces. Highly recommended.” Aaron Gain, University of Brighton

Michael Gold is Emeritus Professor of Comparative Employment Relations at Royal Holloway University of London. His work focuses on employee participation, industrial relations theory and self-employment, as well as on employment policies across the member states of the EU.

Chris Smith is Emeritus Professor of Organization Studies and Comparative Management at Royal Holloway University of London. His interests are in labour process theory, knowledge transfer through the transnational firm, comparative analysis of work and employment, and professional labour.

Detailed Contents

List of Boxes, Figures and Tables

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms

Notes on the Authors

Acknowledgements

Introduction: Where’s the ‘Human’ in Human Resource Management?

Part 1: Where We’ve Been…

1. What’s HRM Really About?

2. What’s So Special About HR Strategy?

3. The Employment Relationship

4. Conflict and Resistance at Work

5. Societal Contexts and Global Trends

6. Trade Unions

7. Management Styles

Part 2: Where We’re Heading…

8. The ‘New’ Unitarism

9. Flexible Working

10. Services and Aesthetic and Emotional Labour

11. Migrant Workers

12. Corporate Social Responsibility

Part 3: What All This Means for HRM

13. Recruitment and Social Networks

14. Discrimination and Diversity

15. Pay and Rewards

16. Employee Participation and Involvement

17. Training and Development

18. Work–Life Balance

19. Artificial Intelligence and HR Analytics With Yu Zheng

Summary and Conclusions

Case Studies

List of Films About Human Resource Management

Glossary of Key Concepts

References

Names Index

Subject Index