Labor Relations / Unions

NLRB ready to abandon suit naming McDonald’s a joint employer

02/13/2018

With almost no fanfare, the National Labor Relations Board last month announced plans to seek a settlement with McDonald’s instead of continuing to pursue a three-year-old lawsuit that accused the fast-food chain of colluding with its franchisees to punish employees who protested for higher pay.

Robb wants to add NLRB appointees

01/30/2018

The National Labor Relations Board’s top attorney wants to add a new layer of management between headquarters staff in Washington and the NLRB’s 26 regional offices.

Industry alone may decide who DOL probes

01/25/2018

Even employers that scrupulously adhere to federal employment laws may have to contend with U.S. Department of Labor investigators. That’s because a particular employer’s conduct often has little to do with the DOL knocking on an employer’s door.

Penalties rise for employment law violations

01/18/2018

A two-year-old law requires the U.S. Department of Labor to adjust the level of employment law fines each year based on inflation.

Joint employment definition takes a pro-employer turn

01/09/2018

A new ruling by the National Labor Relations Board has defined a joint employer as one that exercises “direct and immediate” control over worker activities. For employers, that’s a welcome return to normal after two years of uncertainty.

Trump DOL nominees to testify before HELP Committee

01/09/2018

Following a lengthy hiatus, efforts to confirm Trump administration appointees to the Department of Labor appear to be getting back on track.

Austin sued by employee spurned after fire merger

01/03/2018

The former president of the union that represented employees of Travis County Emergency Services District 4 is suing the city of Austin and its fire chief over Austin’s refusal to hire him following the merger of ESD4 and the Austin Fire Department.

Kaplan named NLRB chair

01/03/2018

President Trump has appointed Marvin E. Kaplan to succeed Philip Miscimarra as chair of the National Labor Relations Board.

Employment law by the numbers: Know which laws count

12/20/2017

Businesses must stay abreast of an alphabet soup of federal laws—ADA, ADEA, FMLA and so forth—each with its own requirements. Further complicating matters, most states have their own laws that override the federal requirements. To comply, you first must know which laws apply to your business.

The NLRB strikes back: 4 big pro-employer moves

12/18/2017

In a flurry of decisions in recent days, the National Labor Relations Board reversed years of pro-employee labor rulings that employers opposed. Business groups cheered the decisions, saying they’ll bring much-needed balance to employer-employee relationships. Three key decisions, rendered on Dec. 14 and 15, overturned a string of pro-worker, pro-union NLRB rulings. All were timed […]