Dive Brief:
- Menard Inc., which owns Menards, the home improvement store chain, has agreed to adjust some workplace practices after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found it was violating federal labor law, according to The Progressive, which originally reported on the issues in late 2015.
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Among other issues, the NLRB busted the retailer for improperly requiring employees to sign mandatory arbitration agreements that prevent the option of launching class-action lawsuits. According to the NLRB, Menards has also withheld merit pay raises for workers engaged in protected union activities.
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In a settlement agreement, Menards agreed to cease those practices and post a notice to employees that it will respect their rights under federal labor law and "not condone or tolerate any conduct by our agents/representatives which does not comply" with the settlement terms.
Dive Insight:
According to The Progressive, the NLRB investigation followed a series of complaints filed by Seth Goldstein, a senior business representative of the Office and Employees International Union, Local 153, based in New York City. .
The NLRB found merit to several additional complaints lodged by Goldstein, but dismissed others, The Progressive reports. Goldstein told The Progressive that the NLRB agreed that Menards was violating labor law by requiring employees to sign agreements that preclude them from engaging in concerted activities, including class actions, which are clear violations of federal labor law.
The Progressive asked Menards spokesperson Jessie O'Mara if the company violated the rights of its workers until it was forced to stop doing so by the federal government, and the reply, via email, was: "We will not be commenting at this time."
