In 2012, Triple Play Sports Bar, was found to have committed an unfair labor practice when it unlawfully terminated the employment of two employees who had engaged in a Facebook conversation about the way their employer was handling tax withholdings.

Question

The National Labor Relations Board held that the discussion of their tax treatment was substantively related to wages, hours, and working conditions and therefore protected by the National Labor Relations Act. In what ways might the study of labor relations have prevented Triple Play from violating a federal law protecting worker rights?

Answer 1

First, knowledge of the NLRA would have helped Triple Play to understand the protections its employees were entitled to under the law. They would have understood that employees do not have to be unionized to enjoy the benefits of the NLRA. They would also have understood employees have the right to discuss their working conditions and wages. Second, the study of labor relations would have helped Triple Play to understand the importance of addressing employee concerns before they become so frustrated that they "go public" with their complaints. Third, it would have helped Triple Play to better understand and estimate the costs associated with handling the labor conflict in the manner they chose. Finally, studying labor relations would have helped Triple Play to consider other, possibly more productive, ways to resolve their conflict with the employees.