Stare Decisis: Dress Codes, Union T-Shirts and the NLRB
Some good lessons here. I assume our readers all know what a “constructive discharge” is, but just in case you don’t, it’s when an employer deliberately makes the employee’s life at work so miserable that the employee feels...more
In an election year, and in a climate where employees are more expressive about their opinions and beliefs, particularly regarding social movements, many employers wonder if and where to draw the line on limiting political...more
You’ve got an employee who is an outspoken critic of your company’s equal employment policies or practices. He or she has violated your dress code by wearing anti-discrimination messages, fomented discontent amongst your...more
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled that a Minnesota Home Depot Store broke the law by telling an employee to remove a “BLM” marking from their work apron. The NLRB has recently decided in Home Depot USA, Inc....more
The National Labor Relations Board just ruled that a national retailer must allow customer-facing employees who want to write “Black Lives Matter” on their uniforms to do so – and may have opened Pandora ’s Box when it comes...more
After a flurry of pro-employee National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) decisions, the Fifth Circuit gave employers a glimmer of hope, rejecting the Board’s recent rule issued in Tesla, Inc., 371 NLRB No. 131 (2022) that...more
In August 2022 the National Labor Relations Board issued its decision in Tesla, Inc.,holding that an employer bears the burden of proving “special circumstances” if it “interferes in any way with its employees’ right to...more
Can you enforce your uniform policy, even if that means an employee can’t wear a union t-shirt? Earlier this month, in Tesla, Inc. v. NLRB, the Fifth Circuit looked at that very question and ruled for Tesla....more
The Fifth Circuit’s decision in Tesla, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board is a victory for employers seeking to enforce their uniform requirement without fear of running afoul of federal labor laws. The decision affirms...more
In a recent 3-2 decision titled Tesla, Inc., the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that workplace policies restricting the wearing of union insignia or apparel are presumptively unlawful, even if those...more
The vocabulary phrase for today’s episode of Warner Employment News From the Law Shanty is “stare decisis.” Steve addresses the recent National Labor Relations Board case, Tesla Inc., 370 NLRB (2022), involving employees...more
The National Labor Relations Board has held that Telsa must allow employees to wear shirts with a union insignia while on the job. The decision is certainly a learning opportunity for employers and a strong signal of the...more
On Aug. 29, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) issued its decision in Tesla, Inc., 371 NLRB No. 131 (2022), one of the first major decisions by the now Democratic-controlled board to overrule a decision from...more
On August 29, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a decision finding that absent special circumstances, employers may not enforce dress codes or uniform policies that interfere with employees’ right to...more
On August 29, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board (the Board) issued a major decision in Tesla Inc. that reversed a previous standard set by the Board in 2019. Previously, employers enjoyed substantial discretion to...more
On August 29, 2022, the NLRB issued its decision in Tesla, Inc., overruling precedent that allowed employers to enforce facially-neutral dress codes to prohibit wearing non-conforming attire, including union insignia and...more
On August 29, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) reaffirmed employees’ right to don union insignia in the workplace and found that Tesla, Inc., the electric vehicle manufacturer, violated federal labor...more
The US National Labor Relations Board recently issued its first precedent-shifting decision under the Biden-Harris administration concerning employer dress codes and uniform policies. The Board, in a 3-2 split decision, held...more
On August 29, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) examined workplace restrictions on the display of union insignia where employers require employees to wear uniforms or designated clothing. ...more
The National Labor Relations Board ruled on August 29, 2022 that workplace policies restricting or limiting employees’ wearing of union apparel are unlawful unless the employer can demonstrate the existence of “special...more
Unless you are a lawyer heading to court, you probably aren’t wearing a suit today. In fact, most people probably weren’t wearing formal work attire even before the pandemic. Across industries, jeans, flip flops, and...more
On June 4, 2019, the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District issued an unpublished opinion in Krista Townley v. BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. holding that BJ’s Restaurants was not required to reimburse its employees for the cost...more
Burgers and buttons are making headlines again. Employees at Burgerville—a fast-food restaurant chain in the Pacific Northwest—recently took to wearing buttons to work and were sent home for the day. These buttons were not...more
The basketball court isn’t the only place you’ll see interesting uniforms this month. Many employers choose to implement and enforce their own uniform requirements and dress codes at work. But if done incorrectly, uniforms...more
Dress codes—a helpful workplace rule or a trap for the unwary? A recent Forbes article (High Heels and Workplace Dress Codes: Urgent Action Needed, Say U.K. MPs) relates the story of Nicola Thorp, who was sent home from her...more