Labor & Employment Law I MAY 2, 2014

New NLRB Notice Format

In Durham School Services, L.P., 360 NLRB No. 85 (2014) The National Labor Relations Board took another step into the future.

The Charging Party Teamsters Union asked that the Board modify its standard notice to inform employees that a copy of the Board’s full decision and order is available on the Board’s website. That notice referred to actions the respondent must undertake within a specified number of days “from the date of the Board’s Order.” The notice did not tell employees how to access that order.

Making the Board’s decisions and order more readily accessible to employees will facilitate a better understanding of what the respondent did, why it was unlawful, and why the Board granted (or denied) particular remedies.

Accordingly, the Board determined to revise the notice in Durham School Services’ case, and in future cases to include a hyperlink to a copy of the decision on the Board’s website. Even if employees cannot use the hyperlink, this will give them an electronic address where they can obtain a copy of the decision. For employees who do not have access to or do not wish to use a computer to obtain an electronic copy of the decision, the notice also will provide an address to which they may write, and a telephone number which they may call, to obtain a printed copy of the decision from the Board’s Executive Secretary. Thus the Notice to Employees in Durham School Services included the following:

The Board’s decision can be found at www.nlrb.gov/case/32-CA-077078 or by using the QR code below. Alternatively, you can obtain a copy of the decision from the Executive Secretary, National Labor Relations Board, 1099 14th Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20570, or by calling (217) 273-1940. [QR Code]