Not long after the November elections, we discussed potential changes that could come at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) after inauguration day on January 20, 2025. Although it is a virtual certainty that President-Elect Trump will very quickly remove Jennifer Abruzzo from her position as the NLRB’s current General Counsel (the agency’s … Continue Reading
The U.S. political landscape changed dramatically recently, in a way that will significantly impact labor law obligations for virtually all employers in the U.S. Republicans will control the White House and Congress come January, and Republican appointees will control the Supreme Court. By late January, Republican appointees will hold some of the key positions at … Continue Reading
Last week, the Democrat-majority members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) overruled a nearly 40-year old precedent (Tri-Cast), now making it unlawful for employers to explain to employees, even in non-coercive, non-threatening terms, the potential downside of selecting union representation (see our post here). With the election outcome poised to flip the … Continue Reading
Any question whether, in light of the recent election outcome, the Democrat-majority members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) would scale back their high-profile efforts to rewrite federal labor law to favor unions was answered only days after the election, with those members issuing a decision overruling a nearly 40-year-old case that … Continue Reading
California’s busy legislative year has come to an end, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing several new laws that will impact Golden State employers. Here, we summarize the laws expected to have the greatest impact on California employers in 2025. Unless otherwise noted below, these new laws take effect January 1, 2025.… Continue Reading
California’s legislative landscape is set to shift dramatically with the recent passage of the California Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act, Senate Bill 399. Set to take effect on January 1, 2025, this new law promises to reshape the dynamics of employer-employee communications, particularly in matters related to politics and labor unions.… Continue Reading
We first reported in February 2023 on a surprising and alarming decision by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or “the Board”)—In re McLaren Macomb—which concluded that the mere proffer of a severance agreement with broad confidentiality and/or non-disparagement provisions could violate Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which protects the … Continue Reading
Over the course of just a few weeks, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) continued its ongoing dismantling of long-standing precedent and rollback of Trump-era procedural rules. First, on July 26, 2024, the Board released the “Fair Choice – Employee Voice” Final Rule, reversing three amendments the Board made in April 2020 to … Continue Reading
Illinois joins a growing list of states prohibiting employers from requiring employees to attend meetings discussing union representation issues. Here’s the scene: President Truman is seeking reelection, and Miracle on 34th Street just snagged three Academy Awards. The Minneapolis Lakers are celebrating their win in the National Basketball League championship (in the team’s inaugural season, … Continue Reading
Unless you have been stranded on a deserted island over the past few years, you’ve likely heard that Starbucks has been fighting a protracted battle over unionization of its employees. In addition to dealing with the union seeking to represent its employees, Starbucks also has had to contend with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB … Continue Reading
It’s never a good sign when a court calls your reasoning “nonsense” or instructs your lawyers to “brush up” on their familiarity with legal doctrines. But that’s exactly what a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit did in a decision that overturned the National Labor Relations … Continue Reading
Hollywood studios, the Big Three automakers and Starbucks were just some of the employers impacted by a remarkable surge in labor strikes called by unions in 2023. Nearly 350 strikes took place in 2023 – the most in two decades. According to data released by Bloomberg Law,[1] 345 strikes were called in 2023, along with … Continue Reading
If you terminate an employee in Belgium you will often need to pay a severance indemnity. This is calculated in part by reference to the employee’s pay for his notice period. It is calculated on the “full salary”, including not just base salary, 13th month and vacation pay, but also all other benefits enjoyed by … Continue Reading
I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there’s gum in my hair and when I got out of bed in the morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be … Continue Reading
In a much anticipated (yet thoroughly unsurprising) decision, on August 2, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) again reversed precedent, crafting a what’s-old-is-new-again standard for evaluating – and easily invalidating – employer work rules. The long and short of the Board’s decision in Stericycle, Inc. is that employers can now expect, much … Continue Reading
Now that we’re almost half-way through 2023, it’s time again to review the developments in state and local labor and employment laws. State legislatures and city councils continue to be very busy making new laws and amending existing laws. In fact, due to the large number of updates, we are splitting our post into two parts. … Continue Reading
Since approximately mid-2021, unions have been aggressively seeking to reassert their relevance in the US workplace. Extensive media coverage of high-profile union organizing campaigns at Amazon, Apple, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, and other well-known large companies has chronicled those efforts, but unions have been hard at work seeking to organize employees at employers of all sizes … Continue Reading
As we previously reported, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB,” or “the Board”) decided last month in McLaren Macomb, 372 NLRB No. 58, that an employer commits an unfair labor practice (“ULP”) when it presents a non-supervisory employee with a severance agreement containing broad confidentiality and/or non-disparagement provisions. The Board reasoned that even proffering an … Continue Reading
Back in November 20201 we reported here on some new Acas guidance on changing terms of employment through dismissal and re-engagement, and in November last year on the Government’s intention to issue a new statutory Code on that practice here. A first draft of that Code has now landed and we can exclusively report that … Continue Reading
Over the course of one week in mid-December, the Democrat-appointed majority members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or the Board) significantly altered the labor law landscape for employers by issuing a flurry of high visibility, much anticipated decisions. Among other things, these decisions will make it easier for unions to organize employees and … Continue Reading
Last Tuesday, September 13, the Ohio Supreme Court struck down a state statute that prohibited public-sector labor unions and their members from encouraging targeted picketing at the homes of public officials, stating that the law was an unconstitutional content-based restriction on free speech. The decision was unanimous as to the result, but the Justices were … Continue Reading
On August 29, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) overturned prior NLRB precedent and announced a new and highly restrictive standard for employers seeking to establish and enforce workplace uniform policies and dress codes. A large manufacturer maintained a dress code policy, which mandated that employees wear “assigned team wear” consisting of … Continue Reading
The metaverse is poised to reshape the way we live and work. Employment law in real life is vexing enough, with US employers required to navigate the complex federal, state and local laws and regulations that impact the employment relationship. Now some employers and businesses are making the leap into the virtual world, where employment … Continue Reading
Two major developments this week illustrate a new landscape for employers with regard to union organizing campaigns. First, the National Labor Relations Board has reported a dramatic increase recently in the number of union election petitions (i.e., requests for elections to decide whether a union may represent a group of workers). During the first half … Continue Reading
