In a modern, capitalist system, how employment is regulated is an important issue – both for the many individuals who rely on paid work to make a living, and for the social and economic wellbeing of the society in which they live.

Over the past century and a half, every industrialised democracy has introduced laws that seek to protect workers in various ways.

The most significant relationship that corporations and individuals will probably ever have is the work relationship. Since workplace relationship affects virtually everyone, it has increasingly become a complex part of our lives and a constant area of potential dispute. In addition to this, our work lives can contribute to the bulk of our self-esteem and is the most important aspect of the function of a corporation.