Employer Trips over Harassment Rules

A medical center employer told employees they should feel free to contact management if they felt harassed or intimidated during a union organizing campaign. A divided National Labor Relations Board held that such a request was unlawful. A Board majority said the employer's harassment communication interfered with employees' rights to discuss unionization and violated the National Labor Relations Act. Splitting with the majority, then Chairman Philip Miscimarra said in a dissent that the medical center had “compelling justifications” for encouraging employees to report unlawful harassment and didn't do anything illegal by telling employees they could feel free to contact the hospital.