NLRB Says Workers Should Not Have Lost Jobs for Facebook Postings

The National Labor Relations Board said earlier this month that a non-profit in organization in Buffalo was wrong to fire five workers for Facebook postings that criticized working conditions, and disclosed that it has more than two dozen cases involving worker complaints aired on the social media site.

 

 

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the NLRB complaint against Hispanics United of Buffalo reaffirms the agency's position in a prior case that labor law permits employees to discuss the terms and conditions of their employment with co-workers and others—including postings on social-media sites. (WCxKit)

 

 

In the recent complaint, an employee of Hispanics United who was slated to meet with management regarding working conditions posted on Facebook a co-worker's allegation that employees didn't assist the nonprofit's clients enough, the NLRB said. That post attracted responses from other employees who defended their work and blamed conditions like work loads and staffing issues. When Hispanics United learned about the postings, it released the five employees who participated, stating their comments were harassment of the employee originally mentioned in the post, the NLRB remarked.

 

 

The NLRB claimed the Facebook discussion was "protected concerted activity" under the National Labor Relations Act. The earlier case was brought to the agency by a union representing an employee of ambulance company American Medical Response of Connecticut.

 

 

In that incident, the employee posted comments regarding her supervisor and responded to further comments from her co-workers. That case was settled in February when the company agreed to revamp its rules to ensure they don't restrict workers rights. A separate, private settlement was reached between the company and the employee, though terms weren't disclosed. (WCxKit)

 

 

According to NLRB spokeswoman, at least three other complaints have been issued from regional offices since the American Medical Response case. All of those appear to have been settled, she added.