University of Wisconsin-Stout (Copyright retained by University of Wisconsin-Stout)
Welcome to HT-261-001
Hospitality Employee Relations
Spring, 2025
Associate Professor Betsy A. Pudliner, Ph.D.
pudlinerb@uwstout.edu
Office Hours:
M, W: 10:30am-12:30Noon
T: 10:00am-12:00pm; 1:30-3:30pm
Or by appointment outside of office hours. Check calendar or send an email request.
Course Overview
Issues, trends and managerial tactics for supervising hospitality employees. Focuses on the dynamic considerations of the hospitality industry and the skills needed for effectively leading employees.
Student Learning Objectives
When the course is successfully completed, participants will be able to demonstrate the following skills
- Understand how employment law, legislation and regulations interact to govern the unique considerations of the employer – employee relationship within the hospitality industry.
- Determine the operational influence of various structures of legal and governance systems have on managing people within hospitality organizations.
- Differentiate the influence that international, national, regional, and local laws have on effectively managing diverse hospitality employees.
- Identify effective management principles, techniques and trends in hospitality employee
- Compare effective human resource practices to develop and support a diverse
- Explain the relationship between effective employee selection, training and motivation with successful hospitality leadership.
Learning objectives are statements designed to explain the expected goal of a course, lesson or learning activity found within a course. These objectives should demonstrate skills or knowledge that you, the student, will learn as a result of instruction, either in person or through online instruction. These learning goals have direct links to the activities and assessments used to assess your learning informally and formally as student’s progress through the course.
Course Modules include the following topics
- The legal landscape (CO 1,2,3)
- Hiring and supervising
- Hospitality manager’s legal
- Wage and hour laws and their effect on salaried, hourly, and tipped
- Common law importance, negligent hiring and employee
- Employee selection process (CO 1,2,3,4)
- Establishing job descriptions and job specifications for
- Importance and role of the employee
- Advertising and recruiting hospitality
- Applications, interviews and background
- The role of cultural competencies and awareness in hiring successful
- Hospitality employee orientation and training (CO 3,4,5,6 )
- The role of the supervisor in a successful hospitality
- New hospitality employee orientation to the
- Effective training and development of
- Differences between difference hospitality
- Communication and motivation in hospitality (CO 2,5,6)
- Measuring, assessing and conducting performance
- Role of communication and feedback in hospitality
- Fundamentals of employee discipline in hospitality service
- Employee motivation through quality and effective
Assessment and Measurement
Evaluation and Grading:
This syllabus, along with course assignments and due dates, are subject to change. It is your responsibility as the student to check the Canvas course for corrections or updates within the course and to the syllabus. Any changes will be clearly noted in Canvas Course Announcements, through Canvas Inbox messages or via Outlook email.
Viewing Grades in Canvas:
Points you receive for graded activities will be posted to the Canvas Grade Book. Click on the “Grades” link found in the Course Navigation bar to view the points earned within a course.
Grades will be confirmed and updated within 48 hours of due dates.
Letter Grade Scale:
| A | 100-93% | A-92-90% | |
| B+ | 89-87% | B 86-83% | |
| B- | 82-80% | C+ 79-77% | |
| C | 76-73% | C- 72-70% | |
| D+ | 69-67% | D 66-60% | |
| F | 59-0% |
Important Notes about Grading Policy:
The grade of A is reserved for those who demonstrate extraordinarily excellent performance. The grade of A- is awarded only for excellent performance. The grade for good performance in this course is a B+/B.
Assessments/Assignments/Activities:
| Category | Points |
| Discussions | 100+ |
| Quizzes | 200 |
| Midterm | 50 |
| Final Simulation Project | 200 pts |
| Total | 550+ |
Course Evaluation:
The University of Wisconsin-Stout is committed to continuous improvement. The faculty strongly encourages students to provide complete and honest feedback for this course. Please take this activity seriously because we depend on your feedback to help us improve so you and your colleagues will benefit. Information on how to complete the evaluation will be provided towards the end of the course.
Instructional Materials
Required Text and Learning Materials:
It is your, the student’s, responsibility to ensure all text(s) and learning materials are procured prior to class starting for the semester or grading term. The following text and learning materials will be used for this course:
Supervision in the Hospitality Industry, 10th Edition
John R. Walker
ISBN: 978-1-119-70550-5 November 2020 400 Pages
- This book will be delivered as an e-text through Redshelf direct the student to the Course Navigation Bar in
- In addition to the resources listed above, other readings and course resources and materials may be made available with a Canvas course module.
Instructional Resource Services (IRS):
Most textbooks and e-Texts are accessible through Instructional Resources Services. A complete list of your required textbooks is available on AccessStout, on your “My Class Schedule” page. For more information about textbooks, student resources and distance education resources, please go to the Instructional Resource Services page.
Campus Location: Robert S. Swanson Library & Learning Center, Room 321 Phone: (715) 232-2492
Textbook Email: textbook@uwstout.edu e-Text Email: etexthelp@uwstout.edu
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00am-6:00pm, Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Learning Activities and Interaction
- The most important aspect of this course is fire life safety, personal safety, and food safety. Any deviation of these three aspects will not be accepted due to the immediate community in Heritage Hall
- This course will be delivered face-to-face however materials will be 100% on canvas
- There will be various classroom methods utilized in this course from discussions, exercises, reading, group collaboration, customer service activities, online assessments, chapter assignments
- Peer collaboration will be done from time to Proper communication will be necessary while working together
Academic Integrity
Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others’ academic endeavors. Students who violate these standards will be confronted and must accept the consequences of their actions. The disciplinary procedures can be found at Student Academic Misconduct/Academic Discipline Procedure site.
Your professor does not accept knowingly copying the work of others without attribution (plagiarism), or colluding with other students to share answers unless permitted in the course (e.g. group project). At the instructor’s discretion, the consequence of these activities may include failure for the assignment, failure for the entire course, and/or notification sent to student’s advisor and the Dean of Students. Anyone participating in any academic misconduct will be disciplined in accordance with the University Student Handbook guidelines.
Students should not participate in any activity that could be deemed dishonest or in which a student:
- Seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or citation
- Uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic exercise
- Forges or falsifies academic documents or records
- Intentionally impedes or damages the academic work of others
- Engages in conduct aimed at making false representation of a student’s academic performance
- Assists other students in any of these acts
Academic Misconduct:
Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others’ academic endeavors. Students who violate these standards must be confronted and must accept the consequences of their actions. The disciplinary procedures can be found on the Student Academic Misconduct/Academic Discipline Procedure website.
Campus Location: Dean of Students, 130 Bowman Hall and Nakatani Teaching and Learning Center, 201 Robert S. Swanson Library and Learning Center
Phone: (715) 232-1181
Email: dean_of_students@uwstout.edu
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Attendance Policy:
Attendance falls under “Active Participation”. The hospitality industry has a core belief about taking ownership of responsibilities. It is the core attribute of a professional.
- Active Participation is graded
- Tests and Quizzes has extra credit points based from classroom experiences
- Students that experience this “extra information” will be able to demonstrate this for a better overall point total
Incomplete Policy:
Incomplete is used only under extenuating circumstances that prevents undergraduate student from finishing course work during the regularly scheduled course period. Incompletes can be used for graduate courses only under extenuating circumstances that prevent the student from completing the last major course assignment. The university allows up to one year for course work completion. After one year the course grade “I” expires to “F”
Late Work Policy:
We are all humans. I am a firm but fair instructor and expect best efforts given by all. Life always throws curveballs our way and I am a very compassionate leader. Since all material is online, there will be many opportunities to stay ahead of the course. Canvas has set due dates. I suggest that everyone works on assignments during the week to keep up with the course.
Any issues that arise, I will always show my understanding, within reason, and work to find a solution to any challenges.
Adding/Dropping Courses:
Careful planning with your adviser should lead you to a course plan which is appropriate to your degree goal. When circumstances do not permit you to carry through your course plan, the following policy serves as UW- Stout’s procedures for adding or dropping classes. Add and Drop dates are prorated for the Summer and WinTerm sessions.
More information on adding and dropping courses can be found on the Registration and Records website page.
Campus Location: Registration and Records Office, 109 Bowman Hall Phone: (715) 232-2121
Email: registrar@uwstout.edu
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Inclement Weather Policy:
Weather could always hinder our daily lives. We will stay in good contact to keep each other safe so as not to risk or rush into any further challenges. I will always be fair in judging any situation or issues that arise.
Course Technology
Canvas Access:
This course will be delivered through the Learning Management System: Canvas. You will use your UW-Stout account to login to the LMS from the common login page.
To access this course’s materials in Canvas, you will need access to the Internet and a supported web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari). The suggested browser for Canvas is Chrome; however, others can also be used. To use Canvas at its full potential, be sure to allow pop ups within any browser being used.
In this Canvas course, you will access online content, course materials and resources. Canvas is also the place where you will submit learning activities, assessments and assignments. It is also the place where you will find instructor’s feedback based on your learning within this course.
Technology Assistance:
If you need technical assistance at any time during the course or to report a problem with Canvas, the following supports are available:
- Canvas Student Guides
- Ask your Instructor a Question (found within the Canvas Help tab in the Global Navigation bar)
- Chat with Canvas Support (student)
- UW-Stout KnowledgeBase
- UW-Stout Technology Help Desk
- Canvas Student Orientation Course
Cell Phone and Laptop Use:
When in the classroom, I expect all electronic devices to be dedicated to the learning of the course subject. I will always kindly ask to focus on the subject at hand and give ample time to digest, relax, revisit, and enjoy our classroom dynamics.
Third-Party Tool Integrations:
I may choose to use a third-party tool during quizzes, tests, and possibly during instruction for fairness in assessment. If I do, I will give advanced notice, so all are aware and ready to succeed in assessments.
If there are any chat groups made outside of canvas, please be aware to check settings and select “do not share profile or data” with other chat members if desired. If there are any hesitancies, please feel free to contact me in or out of class.
Learner Support
Disability Services:
UW-Stout strives for an inclusive learning environment. If you anticipate or experience any barriers related to the format or requirements of this course please meet with me so that we can discuss ways to ensure full access. To learn more about disability requirements and eligibility, please go to the Disability Services website.
Campus Location: Robert S. Swanson Library & Learning Center, Room 120 Phone: (715) 232-2995
Email: disabilityservices@uwstout.edu
Career Services:
Career Services at UW-Stout serves students from all majors with career and professional
development. Students have a Career Counselor dedicated to helping them with resumes, interviewing, co- op/job searching, negotiations and networking. Career Services manages the Career Conference, and other recruitment events, as well as the Co-op Program and the CareerLink system.
Career Readiness:
Career Services is helping to make the connections between class activities and skills development that employers have identified as essential. Career Readiness competencies are the bridge to help students do that. Please consider including this language into syllabus or assignments to assist students in seeing the connections.
Employer are looking for graduates who are ready for the workforce. They want new hires who have experience in eight professional competencies that will help them succeed in their workplaces. To learn more, visit your Career Services office.
Campus Location: 103 Administration Building Appointments: Made online
Phone: (715) 232-1469
Email: careerservices@uwstout.edu
Program Counselor:
Each UG and GRAD program has a dedicated counselor to serve the students in them. See your programs Counselor here: https://liveuwstout.sharepoint.com/sites/2022/Career- Services/SitePages/Majors-by-Counselor.aspx
Other Important Academic Policies and Services:
Students are strongly encouraged to consult the UW-Stout Student Handbook and Academic Catalog and the School website http://www.uwstout.edu/index.cfm for detailed information regarding the below items.
- Student Support Services
- Statement of Diversity and Inclusion
- Health & Safety
- Counseling Center
- Emergency Management