Health Care Practices Must Inform Employees of Labor Rights

On August 30, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a final rule that will require all private employers, including health care practices, covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to notify employees of their rights under the Act. This notification’s substance is included on a poster provided by the NLRB, which informs employees of their rights, among others, to join a union and collectively bargain. The poster may be downloaded and printed in either black-and-white or color, and must be posted in the workplace. In addition to physically posting the notice, if personnel rules are customarily posted on the Internet or an intranet site, the notification must also be posted there. Translated versions must be posted where at least 20% of employees are not proficient in English. A failure to post this notice will be deemed an unfair labor practice under the NLRA. The rule goes into effect on November 14, 2011.