Employment Law Blog

NLRB’s Advice Memorandum to Giant Foods LLC: A Giant Shock to Employers

On July 11, 2013, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) released a copy of the Advice Memorandum (find it here) issued for Giant Food LLC. The Advice Memorandum, originally issued in  2012, concludes that portions of Giant Food LLC’s social media policy violates the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”). More >

NLRB's Poster Rule Struck Down by D.C. Circuit

On May 7, the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia struck down a National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) ruling that would have required millions of private employers, both union and non-union, to put up posters alerting employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”). The poster informed employees of their right to join and/or form a union, collectively bargain with employers, and act jointly to improve wages or working conditions. More >

Tightening the Belt & Loosening Enforcement: Effects of the Sequester on Employment Issues

In the months before it took effect, there was a great deal of political finger-pointing and intense debates on the looming sequester. The sequester, a plan implemented through the Budget Control Act of 2011, affects every “program, project and activity” of the federal government by reducing funding to the aforementioned. The cuts aim to save $1.2 trillion over ten years, with defense and domestic discretionary spending both on the chopping block. This year, $85 million dollars will be saved from a requested outlay of $3.803 trillion dollars. More >

Fresenius USA Manufacturing, Inc.- Forcing Employers to Navigate the crossroads of workplace harassment & the NLRA

Properly navigating workplace harassment laws is a tricky endeavor for any company.  A recent decision from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Fresenius USA Manufacturing, Inc. (September 19, 2012) makes employers’ obligations in this arena even more uncertain. More >

Will a Savings Clause Save Your Social Media Policy?

Could a savings clause salvage an otherwise invalid social media policy? Maybe. There is no definitive answer to this question, as savings clauses have been portrayed as both a potential asset for employment handbooks and a non-factor in acting as a loophole for Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).  Thus, it is important to view savings clauses as one tool in your arsenal and not as a panacea for an overly-broad social media policy. More >

NLRB and ALJ Decisions Continue to Refine Social Media Policy Parameters

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)  judgments continue to refine the parameters of the social media policies landscape, offering more insight for employers who are developing policies and procedures that attempt to protect both the company and the employees. Two recent decisions by the NLRB illuminate the legality of social media policies or policies addressing any and all electronic communications. These decisions further set expectations of what is acceptable online behavior by employees, and more clearly define what an employer can and cannot restrict in the language of the policy. More >

Workplace Politics: Cooling the Debates

With the Presidential election just around the corner, employees may be talking about a lot more than gossip around the water cooler. Given the argumentative nature of politics, every employer should be listening for potentially volatile discussions, with a goal of keeping the workplace comfortable and free of hostility this election season. More >

Essentials for Social Media Policies: Surviving the NLRA

Developing a social media policy that will survive the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 151, et. seq. while still protecting the company is a primary focus of every employer. The key is providing specific definitions or guidance as to what an employer considers inappropriate social media activity which will be regulated and that the policy does not limit protected activity.  Policies cited by National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) Acting General Counsel, Lafe Solomon issued in three reports aimed at providing employers guidance on what are and are not permissible social media policies under the NLRA include the following: More >

The NLRB’s View On Acceptable Social Media Policies

The rise of social media, and the desire of employers to both control and police it as to their employees, has served to expose, to many for the first time, that the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 151, et. seq. applies not just to unionized work places but to virtually all private employers of any significant size engaged in interstate commerce.  Section 7 of the NLRA protects employees’ rights to engage in what is commonly referred to as “concerted protected activity” for their mutual aid and protection in both unionized and un-unionized work places.  Pre-social media this activity was typically not that difficult to spot because it commonly manifested itself as two or more employees talking face-to-face about working hours, pay, work conditions, etc. If an employee was acting alone, and thus, not part of concerted activity, it was typically easy to spot as well.  However, with the rise of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media outlets, what is and is not protected activity has become less clear due to the lack of clear employee interaction, and the question of what is in fact protected activity is an increasingly important question as employers struggle with what to do about employee electronic posts or communications which they do not agree with and feel merit adverse employment action.  This is especially true where these communications concern what is felt to be confidential or proprietary information. More >

New NLRB Report on Employer’s Social Media Policies

On May 30, 2012, General Counsel for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a report focusing exclusively on employer social media policies for employees. The report contains seven total cases and found that six of the cases had some lawful provisions, and only one case had a social media policy that was entirely lawful. In general, social media policy provisions are unlawful where they interfere with the rights of employees under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), such as the right to discuss working conditions and wages with other employees. In light of this new report, now is a great time to review your social media policy. McBrayer PLLC can assist you with your social media policy needs to help ensure compliance with the NLRA.

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This article does not constitute legal advice.