Avoiding the Interrogation Trap—Sample Training, Part 1

By National Labor Relations Board rules, “interrogation” is “questioning employees about their union views, membership, or activities.” The most frequent mistake supervisors make during a union drive, even before a petition for an election is filed, is interrogating employees about the union. The fact that there is no unlawful intent, or that it was an inadvertent slip of the tongue, does not matter. The NLRB holds that an inquiry from management about an employee's feelings, thoughts, observations, or anything else involving the union is coercive and interferes with their rights.