How to keep a union out of your business

Workers are organizing at unprecedented rates. From October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board received 3,286 union election petitions, up 27% from the year prior and more than double the number received in 2021. Much of the push comes from service industries like retail, education, and healthcare. Union drives, however, don't start in a vacuum. They happen when employees feel ignored, underpaid, or disrespected.

Here's the hard truth: The best union-avoidance strategy isn't about playing defense or hiring fancy consultants to "bust" a union. It's about being a great employer, period.

So, what are the keys to keeping a union out of your business?

✅ Respect your employees. Build a culture of trust, transparency, and open communication. Create opportunities for employees to voice concerns—and, more importantly, address those concerns quickly and fairly. Employees who feel valued and respected won't need a union to speak on their behalf.

✅ Treat them fairly. Fair treatment means consistency, transparency, and applying policies evenly across your workforce. Employees who feel they're treated unfairly are more likely to seek union representation.

✅ Pay them fairly. Competitive wages and meaningful benefits go a long way toward showing your people that you value their contributions.

✅ Support work-life balance. Younger workers, in particular, are seeking jobs that respect their time and mental health. Make sure your policies reflect that.

✅ Be proactive, not reactive. If your first response to union chatter is panic, you're already behind. Start building positive relationships today.

As workers become more aware of their rights and unions gain traction, maintaining strong employee relations isn't just a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have. Don't wait until a union drive forces your hand. By then it will be too late, and your employees will see you for what you are, a fraud. Build the type of workplace in which your employees don't need to organize in the first place. Because at the end of the day, the best way to avoid a union is to give your employees no reason to want one. Be an employer of choice for employees, not one of opportunity for unions.