HRL 270 - Human Relations Issues in Management (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None
Supervisors are the central actors in accomplishing work tasks. Yet, there is considerable truth to the saying that people quit bosses, not organizations, as employee dissatisfaction with supervisors rates as one of the leading causes of turnover. There is little doubt that a bad boss can make the life of a subordinate miserable, while a good boss can do the opposite, i.e. by improving job design to make work more motivating, providing support during difficult periods of learning new tasks, giving advice in handling relational conflicts with co-workers, and offering mentoring on career pathways and organizational realities. All told, supervisors have an extraordinary amount of power and influence over their direct reports and considerable responsibility toward them. Using a multi-disciplinary framework, this course will examine the role of the supervisor and the unique tasks and challenges associated with performing this role. Key dynamics and strategies for effectively managing supervisor-employee relationships will be critically explored.