While we expect the current National Labor Relations Board to issue mostly pro-labor decisions, here is a situation where a labor union went too far and the Board just could not support them. Recently, the Board dealt with whether a nonunion member who was part of the bargaining unit was required to renew his objection [...]
In a decision released this month, the NLRB cleared the way for unions to display large disparaging banners outside businesses which hire nonunion contractors. Thus a new weapon is added to the union’s arsenal when they protest against union-free employers. In this case, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 1506 was [...]
A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit (which covers Iowa, Arkansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota) reminds employers of the need to train supervisors on how to properly discuss Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave with employees or pay the consequences. In Murphy v. FedEx, Inc., an [...]
The shooting of eight employees by a disgruntled co-worker in Connecticut is a chilling reminder of the prevalence of workplace violence in America. Almost 1,000 Americans are murdered in the workplace every year, and 63 of those people are killed by a co-worker. In today’s economy, many people are working longer hours and feeling more [...]
Many employers choose to offer flexible work schedules to their employees. This flexibility allows some employees to telecommute from home. It can also save employers on office space and the emotional wear and tear on employees. Employees may be eager for the chance to commute to their basement office instead of spending hours in the [...]