Your Own Time No Longer Yours

from the tps-report dept

Slashdot reports that the National Labor Relations Board recently ruled a security company’s ban on employee fraternization — on or off duty — was lawful. So don’t worry about having to choose between a competent jerk or a nice moron for a coworker, since you might not be allowed to talk to them anyway.


Rate this comment as insightful
Rate this comment as funny
You have rated this comment as insightful
You have rated this comment as funny
Flag this comment as abusive/trolling/spam
You have flagged this comment
The first word has already been claimed
The last word has already been claimed
Insightful Lightbulb icon Funny Laughing icon Abusive/trolling/spam Flag icon Insightful badge Lightbulb icon Funny badge Laughing icon Comments icon

Comments on “Your Own Time No Longer Yours”

Subscribe: RSS Leave a comment
10 Comments
TJ says:

No Subject Given

If one looks into this issue more carefully and checks other sources, it is clear that the issue is not at all that simple and relates to behavior while in uniform. Companies have been dismissing people for things done in uniform but off duty for a long time.

Silly, draconian policy by the company that prompted the ruling? Yes. Sensationalist self-serving ‘news’ item linked without any balance or alternate point-of-view? Also yes.

Anonymous Hero says:

Re: Re: No Subject Given

To follow up on my own post, I have now read all the news articles I could find on the subject through Google and none of them state that the NLRB ruling was limited to employees in uniform. Just the opposite, some dissent on the board was afraid the ruling might keep employees from organizing unions.

Director Mitch (user link) says:

Re: Re: Re: Read the Damn Ruling

Hero, don’t read articles, or postings on the boards. Read the damn ruling. It’s posted in PDF on the NLRB web site.

If you bother to read the ruling, it has to do with security guards at a hotel. The “fraternization” has to do with “personal engtanglements” at the hotel. It other words, the guards were not allowed to screw each other at their client’s place of business.
As the ruling noted, such a rule is (and I quote):
“a proper means for preventing the “apperance of favortism, claims of sexual harassment, and employee dissention created by romantic relationships in the workplace”.
So this ruling is brought on by sexual harassment claims, is a special case of security guards working at a hotel, does not refer to having beers with co-workers after work, or have anything to do with collective bargaining.
Pretty pathetic that this site is stooping to lying sensationalism. But what do you expect when you post an article third hand without checking the source?

Anonymous Hero says:

Re: Re: Re:2 Read the Damn Ruling

Talk about lying. I have have read the ruling, here’s the URL: http://www.nlrb.gov/nlrb/shared_files/decisions/344/344-97.pdf
and it it is not limited to fraternization while in uniform. While the ruling mentions a previous case that was about guards at a hotel, this one is not. And yes, it does apply to having a few beers after work. Pretty pathetic the way some posters think no one will check up on them. But what do you expect from turf trolls.

The NLRB is a federal agency charged with investigating and remedying unfair labor practices. As such, their rulings are backed by and have the effect of law. Their rulings create precedence and so this ruling is NOT limited to Guardsmark. It’s easy to see why unions, among others, would object to a ruling like this.

Sean says:

RE:your own time no longer yours

I have read the entire ruling and this NRLB act is only effective for Gaurdsmark LLC. They simply allowed that part of the Employee handbook rules to stand, there was no law passed thaqt allows your employers to add this rule to their own handbook. The whole story was started by a pro-union website to incite anger, nothing elase to report

Mike (profile) says:

Re: RE:your own time no longer yours

I have read the entire ruling and this NRLB act is only effective for Gaurdsmark LLC. They simply allowed that part of the Employee handbook rules to stand, there was no law passed thaqt allows your employers to add this rule to their own handbook. The whole story was started by a pro-union website to incite anger, nothing elase to report

No one was saying that this was required, but the problem is that any employer can now add the same language to the rules, and it’s perfectly legal. That’s where the problem comes from.

Add Your Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here

Comment Options:

Make this the or (get credits or sign in to see balance) what's this?

What's this?

Techdirt community members with Techdirt Credits can spotlight a comment as either the "First Word" or "Last Word" on a particular comment thread. Credits can be purchased at the Techdirt Insider Shop »

Follow Techdirt

Techdirt Daily Newsletter

Techdirt Deals
Techdirt Insider Discord
The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...
Loading...