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Indiana Supreme Court Holds Right-to-Work Law is Constitutional

Posted on May 5, 2015 by

Several months ago, there was a lot of media coverage about a law adopted by the Indiana Legislature known as the Right-to-Work law. This law provided that a union could not force union members to pay union dues or be required to join a union that represented employees at a company. This law was subject […]

NLRB Continues Full Throttle Assault on Employer Solicitation and Distribution Policies

Posted on May 5, 2015 by

This post follows, and builds upon, my November 26, 2014 post Labor Unions Have Another Reason to Be Thankful:  NLRB Serves Up Holiday Season Gift. On November 26, 2014, the National Labor Relations Board issued another union-friendly decision in connection with employer solicitation and distribution policies. The case is Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. (MUBUSI), 361 […]

Gas Goes Down, IRS Mileage Reimbursement Rate Goes Up?

Posted on May 5, 2015 by

This afternoon the IRS issued the standard mileage rates for determining the deductible cost for operating automobiles for various purposes (business, medical, charitable) beginning January 1, 2015. Details can be found here. Even with declining gasoline prices, the reimbursement rate for business purposes actually will increase from 56 cents per mile to 57.5 cents. The […]

National Labor Relations Board is “Not-So-Secret” Santa to Organized Labor – Delivers Union-Friendly Gift in Advance of the Holidays

Posted on May 5, 2015 by

Yesterday, the National Labor Relations Board issued its long-awaited email access decision in Purple Communications, Inc. There is no question that this decision is a “game changer” in the area of union organizing activity at non-union worksites. For details about the decision, and how it will impact your workplace, please read the E-Alert I prepared, […]

NLRB Finalizes Union Election Rules to “Modernize” and “Streamline” Election Process at Nonunion Workplaces

Posted on May 5, 2015 by

On December 12, 2014, the National Labor Relations Board finalized its much-maligned representation election rules designed to make union organizing drives at nonunion workplaces much easier. The new rules make organizing easier by: (1) significantly reducing the time between when a representation election petition is filed and when the secret-ballot election is held [some observers […]

Sex Discrimination of All Types Will Be Enforced

Posted on May 5, 2015 by

The Equal Opportunity Employment Commission has filed a complaint against two different companies alleging discrimination against individuals because of their actions to change gender and allegations the employee was terminated because of such conduct. These are the first cases brought by the EEOC since it took the position in 2012 that transgender discrimination is prohibited […]

Caution: Union Organizing Activity Can Come Quickly

Posted on May 5, 2015 by

We have written several blogs about the recent activity of the National Labor Relations Board that directly affects union organizing efforts. Recent action by the NLRB has authorized the use of company e-mail for union solicitation communications by employees. The NLRB has also published major revisions to the union election rules which expedite the union […]

NLRB Changes Standard – Two Chances to Protect Employee Rights

Posted on May 5, 2015 by

A decision issued last week by the National Labor Relations Board significantly changed the “deferral standard” that was used by the NLRB when considering whether a grievance arbitration award properly addressed the protection of employee rights to communicate about union activities.  In the recent decision of Babcock Wilcox Construction Co., Inc. the NLRB decided that […]

New Year Present from EEOC – Review of Wellness Programs

Posted on May 5, 2015 by

As we think about Christmas presents, the EEOC recently announced its initiatives for the next year. One of those initiatives will be a review of wellness programs and the incentives that an employer provides to employees to participate in a wellness program. The EEOC is trying to coordinate the requirements of the Affordable Care Act […]

Management Rights Clauses – Employer’s Ability to Make Policy Changes Depends Upon What Management Writes

Posted on May 5, 2015 by

On December 30, 2014, a National Labor Relations Board administrative law judge (“ALJ”) issued his decision in Graymont PA, Inc., available here: Graymont_PA_Inc._Decision.   Through Graymont, PA, Inc., the ALJ reminded unionized employers to think twice before implementing workplace policy changes without first notifying the incumbent union and offering an opportunity to bargain about the […]