Category: Joint Employer

Business Coalition Urges Congress to Nullify Expansive Joint Employer Rule

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier
Workers erecting a building framework

The Real Estate Roundtable and a coalition of major business groups sent a letter to all members of Congress last week in support of a joint resolution that would nullify a final rule of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The NLRB “joint employer” rule—scheduled to go into effect on Dec. 26—would render employers vulnerable to claims by “indirect” workers who are not immediate hires. The policy has significant implications that could subject parent-level hotel and restaurant companies, other franchise-model businesses, and companies that hire contractors and subs to expansive joint employer liability. (Coalition letter, Nov. 9 and AP, Nov. 13)

Potential Impact

  • The NLRB rule overturns Trump-era policy and returns to an Obama-era position that makes employers liable to workers they do not directly hire or manage. It also holds joint employers liable for workplace issues they do not control, which range from collective bargaining to workplace safety conditions.
  • The Obama-era version—in place from 2015 to 2017—cost small business franchise operators $33 billion per year, according to the International Franchise Association (IFA). It resulted in 376,000 lost job opportunities and led to 93% more lawsuits against these businesses.
  • The Roundtable joined the coalition letter led by IFA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Other real estate group signatories include the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA), the National Association of Home Builders, the National Multifamily Housing Council, and national general contracting organizations.  

Party Lines in Congress

U.S. Capitol - viewing upward from left
  • The measure could pass the House but is not expected to advance in the Democratically-controlled Senate.

The U.S. Chamber and other business organizations who are signatories on the coalition letter sent last week also filed a lawsuit challenging the joint employer rule on Nov. 9. Unions groups will likely seek to intervene to defend the NRLB rule. (U.S. Chamber case updates)

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NLRB Restores Broad, Obama-Era “Joint Employer” Standard; Industry Coalition Calls for Congress to Pass Unified National Definition

Posted on by Trey Jackson

A conflict of interest by a newly-appointed member of The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) prompted the agency on Monday to restore a 2015 ruling that renders employers vulnerable to claims by “indirect” workers who are not immediate hires – a move with significant implications that again subjects hotels, other franchise-model businesses, and companies that hire contractors to an expansive “joint employer” liability standard.

With Browning-Ferris  revived, an expanded, vague test – based on “indirect ” and “ potential ” control over workers’ terms and conditions of employment – will replace a more predictable and clear “direct and immediate control” standard for determining joint employer liability.

Last December, the NLRB issued its decision in Hy-Brand Industrial Contractors, Ltd. , which overturned the Obama-era “joint employer” standard announced in Browning-Ferris Industries of California, Inc.  (Roundtable Weekly, Dec. 15, 2017)  With Hy-Brand now vacated – because the board’s inspector general recommended that a Trump appointee who previously worked for a law firm that represented one of the companies in Browning-Ferris should have recused himself – the 2015 decision is back in effect.

The withdrawal of Hy-Brand creates an uncertain and complicated legal landscape for ongoing franchise-related cases. (New York Times, Feb. 26) 

With Browning-Ferris revived, an expanded, vague test – based on “indirect” and “potential” control over workers’ terms and conditions of employment – will replace a more predictable and clear “direct and immediate control” standard for determining joint employer liability.  The decision exposes a broad range of contractors and subcontractors, and franchisors and franchisees, to workplace liability for another employer’s actions and a potential obligation to collectively bargain with workers they have not directly hired.  (Wall Street Journal, Dec. 14.)

As the NLRB’s action vacating Hy-Brand demonstrates, congressional action could  definitively address the joint employer standard and insulate the issue from whichever party has enough appointees to swing the majority on the highly politicized labor board.  The House of Representatives in November 2017 passed the Save Local Business Act (H.R. 3441), which would codify the “direct and immediate control” standard when deeming employers liable for workplace violations.

A multi-industry coalition, including The Real Estate Roundtable, on Feb. 15 wrote Senate leaders urging them to take up H.R. 3441 as soon as possible to provide certainty for small business owners and other employers in all industries, while clarifying protections for American workers.