Labor law operates under a different logic than employment law. It focuses on collective rights, organizing activity, bargaining obligations and the rules of a represented workplace. Designed for HR professionals and managers, this online course builds practical operational fluency in unionized environments. You’ll learn what changes when employees are union-represented or engaged in organizing efforts and how to navigate day-to-day decisions without creating avoidable conflict or legal risk.

Through applied scenarios and interactive learning, you’ll learn how to anticipate union touchpoints, manage grievances and collaborate effectively with labor relations professionals and counsel—especially when issues intersect with employment law. You’ll also examine how labor law frameworks interact with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), grievance procedures and past practice.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to identify bargaining and meet-and-confer obligations, recognize union-related risks and communicate effectively in a represented environment. This course prepares you to operate confidently in unionized environments while minimizing legal risk and supporting effective labor-management relationships.

Learning Outcomes

• Differentiate labor law from employment law and explain how collective rights, union representation and organizing activity shape workplace practices and decision-making
• Identify organizing and protected concerted activities and apply legally compliant employer responses
• Determine when bargaining or meet-and-confer obligations apply and assess how management actions may trigger bargaining obligations
• Interpret and apply Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) provisions to manage workplace issues and support dispute resolution, including arbitration readiness
• Recognize and assess labor relations risks, including unfair labor practices, and communicate effectively in unionized environments while navigating intersections with employment law

Skills You Will Gain

• Communication in unionized workplaces
• Grievance management and response
• Labor relations risk identification
• Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) interpretation
• Documentation for labor relations processes

Who Should Enroll in this Course

The primary audience is working HR professionals and workplace practitioners, including managers and employee relations partners—who need foundational competence in identifying and responding to workplace legal issues. The program is not designed for attorneys or as preparation for legal practice, and it does not equip participants to provide legal advice or substitute for consultation with qualified counsel.

Course Format and Pacing
This is an online remote learning course delivered through UC Davis CPE’s learning management system, Canvas.