Overview
This course examines the design and administration of workplace expectations, disciplinary systems, recognition practices, employee benefits, and internal incentive programs. Students analyze conduct standards, performance management, attendance policies, documentation, grievance procedures, due process, and proportionate corrective action within organizational settings.
The course evaluates house perks as components of the employee value proposition, including discounts, meals, scheduling preferences, bonuses, career pathways, and non-monetary recognition. Emphasis is placed on fairness, accessibility, confidentiality, legal compliance, worker voice, psychological safety, and the effects of incentive systems on morale, retention, equity, customer service, safety, collaboration, and organizational culture.
Through policy drafting, case analysis, and applied evaluation, students distinguish constructive accountability from punitive control; identify risks such as gaming, discrimination, unsafe conduct, resentment, and service degradation; and align rewards with sustainable, ethical performance.
Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate workplace conduct, performance, attendance, and incentive policies against principles of fairness, consistency, transparency, and legal compliance.
- Design clear conduct and performance standards that support safety, collaboration, customer service, and ethical organizational behaviour.
- Develop proportionate disciplinary and grievance procedures incorporating evidence, documentation, confidentiality, due process, accommodation, and representation rights.
- Analyse incentive measures and targets for unintended effects, including gaming, discrimination, unsafe behaviour, uncompensated effort, and service degradation.
- Assess house-perk and employee-benefit programs for accessibility, equity, compensation implications, morale, retention, and organizational culture.
- Construct evidence-based recommendations that align recognition and reward systems with sustainable performance and psychological safety.
- Defend management decisions using relevant evidence, worker voice, ethical reasoning, and principles of consistent application.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
| Seminar | 1 hour | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Policy analysis of workplace discipline and due process. | 20.00% |
| Assignment | Evaluation of a house-perk or employee-benefit program. | 20.00% |
| Tutorial | Case analyses and facilitated participation. | 15.00% |
| Test | In-semester test on policy, accountability, and incentive design. | 15.00% |
| Capstone | Integrated design of an ethical workplace standards and rewards framework. | 30.00% |
Prerequisites
- Requirement Advanced standing in business, management, human resources, or a related discipline.
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.