MGMT2040 Assessment 2 – Wage Theft
Assessment 2 – Report
Weight: 40%
Duration/Length: 2000 Words (+/- 10%)
Submission type: Via Turnitin
Task Overview:
This report requires students to critically analyse & apply industrial relations literature to contemporary workplace problems.
Topic: Wage theft
Many issues in the field of industrial relations are contentious and likely to incite strong opinions and debate. This assessment encourages students to analyse the differing and often competing perspectives of industrial relations stakeholders on an issue of key importance to business, individuals and society at large.
This assessment encourages students to:
- Provide a critical perspective of the academic literature on a topic.
- Construct an informed and analytical response to the question.
- Utilise and conform to the principles of academic rigour in the production of an acceptable, formal response to the question.
Preparation/Instructions:
This assessment task requires you to research the prevalence and impact of wage theft on employment relations stakeholders in Australia. Read the following McKell Institute report, and with reference to this and at least six (6) additional academic sources, critically assess the social and economic implications of wage theft in Australia, and possible solutions.
Essential reading: Cavanough, E. and Blain, L. (2019), Ending Wage Theft: Eradicating Underpayment in the Australian Workplace, The McKell Institute. Available at https://mckellinstitute.org.au/app/uploads/McKell-Ending-Wage-Theft.pdf
Below is an outline of what your report should contain and the questions you should consider when preparing your response.
Structure of report:
Section One – Definition and extent of wage theft in Australia:
400 words (+/- 10%) – Wage theft can take many forms.
- How is wage theft defined in the literature?
- Outline the various forms of wage theft in Australia.
- Provide an overview of the extent of wage theft in Australia.
Section Two – Impact of wage theft on workers:
900 words (+/- 10%) – Choose two (2) groups of workers vulnerable to wage theft.
- What form(s) of wage theft have these workers faced?
- Why are these groups of workers vulnerable to wage theft?
- What is the social and economic impact on these workers?
Section Three – Broader impact of wage theft:
350 words (+/- 10%) – Wage theft has broader implications.
- Does wage theft have an impact on employers paying their workers correctly?
- Does wage theft impact the broader economy?
Section Four – Solutions?
350 words (+/- 10%) – Critically discuss the following question: Should wage theft be a criminal offence?
- Should wage theft be a criminal offence regardless of the reason for employers underpaying workers?
- Outline one other potential solution to eradicate wage theft.