Policy Press

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

Managing Work in the 21st Century

By Michael Gold and Chris Smith

Published

Sep 6, 2022

Page count

470 pages

ISBN

978-1529213805

Dimensions

240 x 172 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Sep 6, 2022

Page count

470 pages

ISBN

978-1529213799

Dimensions

244 x 170 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Sep 6, 2022

Page count

470 pages

ISBN

978-1529213812

Dimensions

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Sep 6, 2022

Page count

470 pages

ISBN

978-1529213812

Dimensions

Imprint

Bristol University Press
Where's the ‘Human’ in Human Resource Management?

We all have to work to pay the bills – but what influence do we really have over our pay and working conditions? The emergence of the global economy, digital technologies, mass migration, gig work and zero hours contracts have thrust this question to the forefront of HRM. So how can we keep the ‘human’ in human resource management faced by these pressures?

This book adopts a critical approach to today’s major workplace challenges. It turns traditional HRM on its head by placing workers’ perspectives towards the workplace alongside those of managers to create an HRM textbook for the 21st century. Written by two experienced and research-active authors, the book:

• locates control of labour costs and productivity at the heart of HRM policy and practice;

• covers key issues that are overlooked in many textbooks, including conflict and resistance, the ‘new’ unitarism, migration and the challenges of Artificial Intelligence;

• adopts a critical approach that will appeal more to students who don’t wish to become traditional managers;

• includes current examples and case studies from the international world of work and business that will bring the subject to life.

This is a comprehensive one-stop resource for students and lecturers alike.

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