The National Labor Relations Board has just announced it has postponed the effective date of its new rule mandating the workplace posting of an official Notice of Employee Rights under the National Labor Relations Act. The rule had been scheduled to go into effect on November 14th. Now, the rule will be effective on January 31, 2012.
The NLRB’s stated reason for the postponement is to “allow for enhanced education and outreach to employers, particularly those who operate small and medium sized businesses.” The Board cited confusion over which business fall within the jurisdiction of the statute. Unlike many other employment laws, coverage does not depend on a minimum number of employees, but the extent to which a company engages in interstate commerce. The thresholds, generally expressed in terms of gross volume of business for different industries, are very low. Almost all private sector employers are subject to the Act.
The Board states that “[n]o other changes in the rule, or in the form or content of the notice, will be made.”
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