Articles and Blogs

When can a hospital bar access to the premises when employees are off duty?  According to the NLRB in a recent case, it will depend on the hospital’s rule, how it is written and how much discretion the hospital has in interpreting the meaning of “hospital-related business.” Cafeteria Operator in the Hospital The hospital... READ MORE

Although the NLRB has been very protective of employees’ rights to comment on Facebook, sometimes employees can go too far.  In this recent case, the legal line between protected activity and unprotected activity was crossed when two employees openly planned to be insubordinate. READ MORE

Protected Rights Expanded in Solidarity We have all become familiar with the protected rights of employees under the National Labor Relations Act. To be protected under Section 7 of the NLRA, employee conduct must be both “concerted” and engaged in for the purpose of “mutual aid or protection.” The question that the NLRB was... READ MORE

And so it continues. In an advice memo dated July 29, 2014, the General Counsel of the NLRB has given authorization to include a franchisor (McDonald’s) as a named party in unfair labor practice charges arising out of the treatment of franchisee employees. Some believe that this move is just part of the increasing... READ MORE

Unlawful Interference Private employees have the right to engage – or not to engage – in activities in support of a union or each other relating to wages, hours and working conditions.  It’s unlawful for private employers to “interfere” with those rights.  Spying on employees or even just creating the impression of surveillance has... READ MORE

The NLRB and President Obama both took a hit last week from the Supreme Court when the Justices ruled unanimously that the President’s appointment of three members of the NLRB during a recess of the Senate was unconstitutional.  We wrote about this legal challenge to presidential power previously as the case made its way... READ MORE

Another Case of Reconsideration for the NLRB Recently we wrote about the NLRB’s decision protecting profanity directed toward a boss during a heated argument in the bosses office.  That decision came after a federal appeals court told the NLRB to reconsider its earlier decision providing protection to the boss-cussing worker.  The NLRB did reconsider... READ MORE

NLRB Often Strikes Down Common Employer Rules For several years now, the NLRB that governs labor and management relations in the private sector has been striking down employer rules that interfere with employee rights to form, join or associate with labor unions or to engage in activity for their mutual aid and protection –... READ MORE

You would think that an employee who told his boss – to his face – that he was a “f***ing crook” and an “a**hole” and that the boss “would regret it if you fire me” – SHOULD be fired.  Not according to the NLRB. READ MORE

Time to Get Serious The NLRB has scheduled two days for public comment on the proposed “Quickie Election Rule” that we reported in our article “Quickie Election Rule II” – The NLRB Tries Again earlier this month.  The meetings will be held in Washington D. C. on April 10 and 11.  The deadline for written comments... READ MORE