Highlights from December Webinar: NLRB Update with Special Guest Valerie Hardy-Mahoney

By Sutton Hague Law Corporation on December 4, 2015 in Highlight
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On December 2, 2015, Sutton Hague Law Corporation was pleased to welcome special guest Valerie Hardy-Mahoney for a webinar on new developments at the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”). Ms. Hardy-Mahoney is an experienced attorney, having been with the NLRB for over thirty years. She is currently a Regional Attorney for the NLRB and oversees Region 32, which is based in Oakland, California, and covers Northern California and Northern Nevada. We thank Ms. Hardy-Mahoney for her time and willingness to share her knowledge with us and our listeners.

Webinar Highlights

Ms. Hardy-Mahoney—along with SHLC attorneys Brett Sutton, Joseph Macias, and Jared Hague—touched on several important topics for employers, such as how the NLRB’s new streamlined union election process has affected employers faced with union organization.

listen-now
— Brett Sutton & Valerie Hardy-Mahoney

 

In addition, the presenters discussed how NLRB decisions are sometimes in conflict with court rulings; however, the NLRB does not consider itself bound by a court’s ruling on an NRLB decision until the matter is taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court. In particular, this has resulted in contradictory rules regarding the enforceability of class action waivers in employment arbitration contracts.

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— Brett Sutton

 

The majority of the presentation was dedicated to analyzing the NRLB’s current take on employer policies that infringe on employees’ right to engage in protected concerted activity. Ms. Hardy-Mahoney emphasized that employer policies that violate the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), even if unenforced, may have real consequences for the employer.

listen-now
— Valerie Hardy-Mahoney & Brett Sutton

 

Ms. Hardy-Mahoney also reminded us that an employee’s right to engage in protected concerted activity may extend further than many employers think.

listen-now
— Valerie Hardy-Mahoney

 

Other Topics Covered

  • History, organization, and purpose of the NLRB
  • Most important provisions of the NLRA
  • Landmark decisions of the NLRB relevant to employer policymaking
  • Employee’s right to use work email for protected concerted activity
  • The NLRB’s approach to evaluating employer policies
  • Tips on drafting policies that will not run afoul of the NLRA

Compact discs and MP3 recordings of the webinars are available for purchase for $30. For more information, please email Rhonda@suttonhague.com.

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