Let me explain.
I just finished listening to the latest episode of the 43-15 Podcast discussing the first group of Petco employees to attempt to organize into a labor union. The hosts were all over the "union busting lawyer" Petco hired to represent it and challenge the employees' organizing. His major sin: "Counseling many companies on labor strategy, union avoidance, and responding to union backed corporate campaigns." Heavens to Betsy, a lawyer doing … wait for it … his job.
Like any other attorney, management-side labor lawyers have a job to do and an ethical obligation to represent their clients zealously. Union organizing and recognition is a decided in an election, in which a majority of employees need to choose to unionize. What are employers supposed to do, roll over and let the union walk in unimpeded? As their lawyers we are simply playing our roll in this process. That's all. Is it adversarial? Sure. Does it sometimes get heated? Of course. But management is entitled to be represented just as do the employees seeking to unionize.
Don't hate the player, hate the game. That's all I'm saying.
Here's what I read and listened to this past week that I think you should be reading and listening to, too.
I Always Feel Like Somebody’s Watching Me: Monitoring Employees’ Social Media — via Employment Law Today (and featuring me)
Amazon Organizing Wave Hits Missouri — via More Perfect Union
Can Owning a Pet Improve Mental Health While Working from Home? — via Take It Personel-ly
When AI Meets the Workplace, Who's Responsible? — via Dan Schwartz's Connecticut Employment Law Blog
What 3 COVID-19-related ADA cases say about EEOC's compliance priorities — via HR Dive
Can Owning a Pet Improve Mental Health While Working from Home? — via Take It Personel-ly
When AI Meets the Workplace, Who's Responsible? — via Dan Schwartz's Connecticut Employment Law Blog
What 3 COVID-19-related ADA cases say about EEOC's compliance priorities — via HR Dive
My coworker refuses to wear a mask — via Ask a Manager
Parental Leave Policy Guide for HR — via Blogging4Jobs
When Quiet Quitting Is Worse Than the Real Thing — via Harvard Business Review
Pressure rises to reconsider decades-old ruling on religion at work — via SCOTUSblog
The customer isn't always right — especially when they are OUTRIGHT RACIST!!! — via Eric Meyer's The Employer Handbook Blog
How A Facebook Messenger Chat Can Become a "Usual and Customary": FMLA Notice Procedure For a Company — via Employment Law Lookout
Parental Leave Policy Guide for HR — via Blogging4Jobs
When Quiet Quitting Is Worse Than the Real Thing — via Harvard Business Review
Pressure rises to reconsider decades-old ruling on religion at work — via SCOTUSblog
The customer isn't always right — especially when they are OUTRIGHT RACIST!!! — via Eric Meyer's The Employer Handbook Blog
How A Facebook Messenger Chat Can Become a "Usual and Customary": FMLA Notice Procedure For a Company — via Employment Law Lookout