In a divided decision handed down yesterday, January 17, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit partially affirmed the decision of a federal District Court eliminating, in part, aspects of an employer-friendly 2019 Rule put in place by the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) to “ensure fair and accurate voting, transparency, uniformity, certainty and finality, and efficiency” in the union election process by, in effect, slowing some of the Obama-era NLRB’s “quickie election” procedures. … Continue Reading
Pregnant and Nursing Workers Benefit from Expanded Employment Protections
On December 29, 2022, as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill, President Biden signed into law two pieces of legislation that will benefit pregnancy and nursing mothers – the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act). … Continue Reading
Board Limits Ability to Prohibit Labor Protests
For the second time in less than a week, the National Labor Relations Board has thrown out a Trump-era standard and reinstated Obama-era rules favorable to labor unions. In Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation, 16-CA-193636 (“Bexar County II“), the Board restricted a business owner’s ability to prohibit off-duty contract workers from conducting labor protests on its property.… Continue Reading
NLRB Adds Consequential Damages to Standard Remedy for Unfair Labor Practices
Employers that violate the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) will have to pay workers additional damages under a recently issued precedential decision from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board).
In Thryv, Inc., the NLRB ruled 3-2 that the Board’s standard remedy for make-whole relief should include consequential damages. The Board now will “expressly order that the respondent compensate affected employees for all direct or foreseeable pecuniary harms suffered as a result of the respondent’s unfair labor practice” to more fully realize the concept of “make-whole relief” under Section 10(c) of the NLRA. … Continue Reading
Back to School – Remembering the 4 R’s: RIFs, Remote Work, Requests for Accommodations, and Recruitment in Uncertain Times, Part Two
Part two of our “Back to School” webinar series will take a look at looming issues for employers as they face an uncertain economic forecast while still dealing with novel challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite unemployment rates remaining steady, a changing economy has many employers anticipating the need to reduce their workforce and re-thinking workforce management.… Continue Reading
11th Annual Utah Fall Employment Seminar
Please join us for an in-depth half day program focused on core issues and developments in labor and employment law and health and welfare with the greatest impact on Utah employers. Topics and panelists to be announced.
For those who can join us in person, a continental breakfast and lunch will be provided, with opportunities to network and share experiences with your colleagues.… Continue Reading
Webinar Recording: Back to School – Remembering the 4 R’s: RIFs, Restructuring, Requests for Accommodations, and Recruitment in Uncertain Times
As COVID lingers and the economy remains uncertain, employers face a host of issues. Recently, a group of Ballard Spahr attorneys hosted part one of a two part webinar series to revisit the basics, as well as novel issues, related to aligning your workforce to your business needs. Many businesses do not have enough workers and are focused on attracting and retaining necessary talent, while others, due to rising costs and stubborn supply chain problems, must consider layoffs and reductions in force.… Continue Reading
NLRB Announces Proposed New Joint Employer Rule
Yesterday, the NLRB published a proposed rule designed to rescind and replace the Trump-era rule used to determine whether two companies are joint employers under the NLRA. Under the rule adopted during the Trump Administration, an employer can be a joint employer with another entity if it has substantial direct and immediate control over the essential terms and conditions of employment of the other entity’s workers.… Continue Reading
New Jersey Now Protects Health Care Workers After Sales, Mergers and Other Control Changes
On August 18, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law S315 (22R), which aims to protect employment and wages and benefits during changes in control at health care facilities. When a change in control occurs, the former and “successor” health care employers will now both have new, and very significant, legal obligations.… Continue Reading
FTC and NLRB Announce New Coordination Efforts
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) resolving to enhance the enforcement of federal laws and regulations administered by these agencies, and to promote interagency collaboration through information sharing, cross-agency training, and coordinated outreach. The stated goal is to “better root out practices that harm workers in the ‘gig economy’ and other labor markets.” … Continue Reading