Course Syllabus

UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

HMGT 625 - HOSPITALITY AND EMPLOYMENT LAW  

COURSE SYLLABUS – FALL SEMESTER, 2016

  • PROFESSOR: Clayton W. Barrows
  • OFFICE: Paul College 270A
  • OFFICE HOURS: Monday, 3:30 – 4:30; Wednesday, 3:30 – 4:30
  • TELEPHONE: 862-0081
  • E-MAIL: clayton.barrows@unh.edu
  • MEETING DAY/TIME & LOCATION: Monday, Wednesday: 2:10 – 3:30, PAUL 175
  • PREREQUISITES/RESTRICTIONS: Junior standing.

Course Description: Tort and contract liability in the hospitality industry. Emphasizes a managerial approach to solving or avoiding potential problems including employment law issues that arise in any business environment: wrongful termination, compensation rules, affirmative action, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and issues involving privacy in the workplace. Looks at numerous State and Federal Agencies with which Hospitality business must work. Examines key forms of ownership in terms of taxes, risks and rewards. Prereq: junior standing.

Purpose:  The purpose of the class is for students to learn the basics of the US legal system, how the law impacts the hospitality industry and how to help manage the legal environment through good management and prevention.

Text: Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Law, 7th edition by Cournoyer, Marshall and Morris.   Available in the UNH bookstore as well as secondary markets.  There is also one copy on reserve in the Library. Required.

Course Requirements: There will be three exams, two quizzes, two written assignments and one case.  The first two exams will be given during regularly scheduled class time.  The final exam will be given during the final exam period (students should consult the Final Exam Schedule for dates and times).  There will be no early makeup exam given for the final exam.

 

Your grade will be based on:

 

First exam: 125 points

Second exam: 125 points

Final exam: 150 points

Homework assignments: 2 X 100 points = 200 points

Quizzes: 2 X 50 = 100 points

Case: 150 points

 

Class attendance: Two absences are allowed. After that, each absence will result in a 20 point reduction in your grade.

 

Quizzes will be unannounced and will be given in class.

 

Total possible points: 850 points

 

 

A         =          790 points or above

A-        =          765 to 789.99 points

B+       =          739 to 764.99 points

B         =          705 to 738.99 points

B-        =          680 to 704.99 points

C+       =          654 to 679.99 points

C         =          620 to 653.99 points

C-        =          595 to 619.99 points

D+       =          569 to 594.99 points

D         =          535 to 568.99 points

D-        =          510 to 534.99 points

F          =          Lower than 510 points

 

 GENERAL NOTES

  •  Please turn off cell phones and other electronic devices before entering class. Laptops are permitted for

 

  • It is expected that students will attend class on a regular basis. UNH policies state that “Every student is expected to accept the responsibility for satisfactory attendance in each course for which she or he is registered. What constitutes satisfactory attendance shall be determined in each course by the instructor within the framework of rules 04.12(as) to 04.16.” (Student Rights, Rules and Responsibilities Manual).  If you are absent due to a University sanctioned event, it is your responsibility to bring proof of attendance to me in advance.  If you have an illness or unforeseen personal emergency, please discuss this with me as soon as possible and we will work together to ensure that you can complete any required work.

 

 All written work is to be professionally prepared and the following guidelines are to be followed where appropriate including:

 

  • All homework assignments are to be submitted by 2:00 on the due date, via Canvas.
  • Guidelines adhering to the specifications of the American Psychological Association including citation of sources.
  • typed and double spaced
  • free of typographical/spelling errors
  • turned in on the date due (20 point penalty each day it is late)
  • include your name, due date and course number
  • a cover page is required
  • all assignments to be submitted electronically through the Canvas site.

 

  • Academic Accommodations for Disabled Students: If you are a student with a documented disability who will require accommodations in this course, please register with the Disability Services for Students Office at 3 Garrison Avenue (862-2607) for assistance in developing a plan to address your academic needs (http://www.unh.edu/disabilityservices/) Students who are already registered with the Access Office and wish to receive accommodations in this course are strongly encouraged to share their Accommodation Letter with me in a timely manner.

 

  • Policy on Religious Holidays: Any student missing class exams or any other class or lab work because of observance of religious holidays shall be given an opportunity during the semester to make up missed work.  The make-up will apply to the religious holiday absence only.  It shall be the responsibility of the student to notify me in advance (one week) of his or her intention to participate in religious holidays that do not fall on state holidays or periods of class recess.  You are responsible for obtaining any information that was covered in class during your absence. 

 

  • Academic Integrity: the University demands a high level of scholarly behavior and academic honesty on the part of students, faculty, staff and administrators. No form of academic dishonesty is acceptable.  Academic dishonesty includes any act that violates the academic processes of the University.  These acts include, but are not limited to, cheating on an examination, stealing examination questions, substituting one person for another at an examination, falsifying data, destroying, tampering with or stealing a computer program or file, plagiarism, copying all or part of a project, signing another student's name to an attendance sheet or violating the integrity of any assignment to which points are assigned.  The student who allows his/her work to be copied will be subject to the same penalty.  If a student in a particular course is deemed by the instructor to be guilty of academic dishonesty, the student may be assigned a failing grade for the corresponding segment of the course, or a failing grade for the entire course.  Please refer to the Students’ Rights, Rules and Responsibilities manual for further information at:

http://www.unh.edu/vpsas/handbook/academic-honesty

Tentative Topics

  • Terms and definitions
  • Nature of the Law
  • Researching the Law
  • Civil rights
  • Contracts
  • Negligence
  • Torts
  • Liability
  • Employee Law
  • Innkeeper rights and Guest relationships
  • Food
  • Alcohol

Resources

Most of the following resources are available through the UNH Library Portal (Law, Justice Studies and Criminology link)

Law 101 (available on line through the UNH Library)

WestLaw

American Jurisprudence

www.Hospitalitylawyer.com

HeinOnline

 

Cases

Team Case Presentations: Each team has been assigned a case.  You are to develop a brief of the case and present it to the class on the day you are scheduled.  Written assignments should follow the Case Template.  Presentations should be limited to 15 minutes.

Team 1 (Emily B., Kelly E., Erica O., Kendra S.) Case 3.3

Team 2 (Courtney B., Alana F., Rachel P., Ellen S.) Case 3.7

Team 3 (Brianna B., Kristina F., Harsh P., Katelyn S.) Case 4.11

Team 4 (Daniel C., Megan G., Jasmin P., Kathryn S.) Case 4.13

Team 5 (Brette C., Brianna G., Heather P., Tara S.) Case 5.3  

Team 6 (Karli C., Nikos K., Trevor P., Hannah S.) Case 5.10

Team 7 (Brianna C., Georgianna K., Caitlyn P., Jordyn T.) Case 7.3

Team 8 (Dianna C., Cameron L., Amanda R., Megan T.) Case 8.5

Team 9 (William C., Cameron M., Sarah R., Xinyang W.). Case 9.1

Team 10 (Madelyn D., Jeremy M., Nicole R., Grace Y.) Case 9.8

Team 11 (Hannah E., Madison M., Michela R., Shaojie Z.) Case 10.

 

TENTATIVE SEMESTER SCHEDULE

HMGT 625

FALL 2016

 

Date                Topic                                                                                                  Assignment

 

Week 1          

 

8/29                 Introduction to the Course

                        Syllabus, resources, cases, “what is law?”                                         

                       

8/31                 Introduction to Law                                                                           Chapter 1       

                        Terms and definitions                        

                                                                         

Week 2

 

9/5                   No Class – Labor Day

 

9/7                   Legal Procedures                                                                                Chapter 2

                        How to read a case

                        How to write a brief

                        Legal research                                    

                                                                          

Week 3          

 

 9/12                 Civil Rights                                                                                         Chapter 3

 

9/14                 Civil Rights (continued)

                        Case 3.3 (Team 1); Case 3.7 (Team 2)

 

Week 4          

 

9/19                 Contracts                                                                                             Chapter 4

 

9/21                 Contracts (continued)

                        Case 4.11 (Team 3); Case 4.13 (Team 4)

 

Week 5          

 

9/26                 Negligence/Torts                                                                                 Chapters 5 & 6

 

9/28                 Negligence/Torts (continued)

                        Case 5.3 (Team 5); Case 5.10 (Team 6)                                                                     

 

Week 6          

 

10/3                 Exam 1

                       

10/5                 Negligence/Torts (continued)

 

 

 

Week 7          

 

10/10               Review/makeup material

 

10/12               No class

 

Week 8

 

10/17               Guests and Patrons                                                                             Chapters 7 & 8

 

10/19               Guests and Patrons

                        Case 7.3 (Team 7); Case 8.5 (Team 8)

                         

Week 9          

 

10/24               Rights of Innkeepers                                                                           Chapter 9

                        Homework# 1 due

           

10/26               Rights of Innkeepers

                       Case 9.1 (Team 9); Case 9.8 (Team 10)

           

Week 10        

 

10/31               Rights of Guests                                                                                 Chapter 10

 

11/2                 Rights of Guests

                        Case 10.3 (Team 11)

                       

Week 11        

 

11/7                 Exam 2

 

11/9                 Review/Make up material

 

Week 12

 

11/15               Sale of Food                                                                                       Chapter 11

                         

11/17               Sale of Food

 

Week 13        

 

11/21               Sale of Alcohol                                                                                   Chapter 12

 

11/23               No Class - Thanksgiving                  

      

 Week 14        

 

11/28               Sale of Alcohol                                                                                   Chapter 12

                        Homework # 2 due

 

11/30               Employment Law                                                                               Chapter 14                                                                             

 

Week 15        

 

12/5                 Employment Law

 

12/7                 Wrapup

 

 

 

Final Exam:  To be scheduled.  It is your responsibility to check the Registrar’s page for the date.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due