Employment Law Newsletters
Good Faith Bargaining under National Labor Relations Act
The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (NLRA) prescribes the rules for the collective bargaining process. Collective bargaining occurs when employees select a bargaining representative (usually a union) to negotiate with their employer on their behalf. The union and the employer work out the details of the employees' pay, benefits, working conditions, discipline, and other work-related issues. The resulting agreement, called a collective bargaining agreement, governs the relationship among the employees, the union, and the employer.
The Privacy Act of 1974
The Privacy Act of 1974 seeks to protect individuals from unjustified invasions of their privacy by restricting the disclosure of personal information that is collected and maintained by federal agencies.
Unemployment Compensation Overview
All states provide compensation to unemployed workers under certain circumstances. Generally, states require employers to contribute to an unemployment compensation fund for all employees. When benefits are sought, payment is made to eligible former employees from the fund. Most states exempt charitable or non-profit organizations from unemployment compensation coverage. They also exclude employers that have a very small number of employees. Furthermore, in order to be covered by unemployment compensation, a worker must be an actual "employee" and not merely an independent contractor.
Unemployment Insurance -- Financing -- Funding Strategies
Typically, states use one of two primary strategies to fund their unemployment insurance programs. The first, advance funding, relies on the establishment and maintenance of a sizeable fund out of which unemployment benefits can be paid. The second, known as pay-as-you-go, utilizes a system by which employers are called upon to pay into the fund on an as needed basis. Both systems are currently in use, and both have their pros and cons.
What are Right-to-Work Laws?
Under most right-to-work statutes, "open shops" are required. Under an open shop structure, employees are free to choose whether or not they wish to join a union. Non-union members may not be required to pay fees to the union.
