As a worker, you do have rights. In spite of the efforts of the National Labor Relations Board, your employer does not have to inform your of your rights as an employee. And that makes it harder for you to know when your rights are being trampled, or find ways to better your own situation. Know which rights your employer won’t tell about.
(Photo Credit: Fibonacci Blue/Flickr)
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proposed a rule back in 2011 that employers must hang 11×17 posters for their employees to read about labor rights. These posters are similar to the mandated posters informing employees about minimum wage laws that are already hanging in workplaces.
The Supreme Court overturned the rule when groups such as The National Association of Managers (NAM) sued. In a mind-boggling turn of events, the NLRB allowed the deadline to appeal the Supreme Court’s decision pass. Your employer does not have to inform you of your labor rights.
What You Can Do
Anybody and everybody can read the posters online. You may print out the PDF and distribute among your co-workers.
Your rights under the NLRB include, but are not limited to:
- You have the right to organize, form, or join a union.
- You have the right to bargain collectively with your employer for better wages and working conditions.
- You have the right to speak freely with co-workers about wages, benefits, and conditions of employment during non-work times.
- You have the right to distribute information about union organization on work premises during non-work times. In other words, you can hand out flyers in the break room.
- Your employer may not threaten you with job loss, demotion, or transfer if you discuss unions.
- Your employer may not offer incentives, such as better wages or a promotion if you agree not to organize.
If you believe your rights have been violated, contact the NLRB immediately, preferably before six months have passed since the time of the infraction.
You may go to the NLRB’s website, or call the NLRB toll-free: 1-866-667-NLRB (6572) or (TTY) 1-866-315-NLRB (1-866-315-6572) for hearing impaired.
Tell Us What You Think
Should employers be required to have labor laws posted? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or join the discussion on Twitter.
The reason they let the time limit to appeal expire is because they knew they were going to lose. Nothing “mind-boggling” about it.