Building Resilience: Workforce Engagement Best Practices Amid NLRB Rule Amendments

As the curtains start to close on 2023, workplaces across the United States are bracing for change catalyzed by the anticipated rule amendments from the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) recent Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC decision reshaping union representation rules. In light of the changes, transparent communication and active engagement with employees has never been more important.

This pivotal change, which allows unions to be recognized without an election if an employer commits an unfair labor practice, underscores the critical importance of clear, transparent communication and the need for companies to proactively engage with employees. With unions gaining a smoother path to recognition and the potential for more rapid unionization efforts, the imperative for companies to understand and address workforce concerns through open dialogue and responsive strategies is greater than ever.

With union election timelines shrinking and unions poised to gain a more accessible path to recognition, companies must tune in to the rhythm of their workforce and respond with empathy and agility.

The Drumbeat of Unionization in Trucking

WorkHound CEO Max Farrell recently sat down with John Kingston at FreightWaves to show how issues reverberate through the minds and lives of truck drivers. The conversation highlighted the challenges that might drive them to unionize, such as when their paychecks are tethered to their miles.

According to Max, the proposed NLRB rule set to roll out in December could catalyze more conversations around unionization in trucking and embolden more truckers and their cohorts to give unionization a shot. In a world where this rule change lowers the hurdles, the prospect of unions gaining traction becomes less hypothetical and more of a potential reality.

Max suggests that the easier path to unionization might catch companies off guard, putting those without a solid engagement strategy in a tight spot. Employer-employee dialogue must shift from reactive to proactive, where companies step up their game in maintaining open communication channels with their workforce.

What are we doing to connect with our workforce so that we are taking care of people and giving them a voice so they are content and good with where things are? At the end of the day, our goal is to understand how or what it takes to give workers a voice, so companies make the best decisions possible to build a great business. – Max Farrell, CEO

The proposed NLRB rule isn’t just a regulatory shift — it’s a potential game-changer in how the industry understands unionization. And as the rule inches closer to its enactment, the buzz across frontline industries is only getting louder.

Labor Action Tracker

The recent weeks have seen a flurry of union activities across many sectors outside of trucking, painting a larger picture of a burgeoning movement for workers’ rights amidst challenging economic landscapes. Here’s an update on some of the latest developments:

• Rail Transportation Sector: In Philadelphia, the SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) and its largest union, TWU Local 234, are on a collision course with stalled contract talks, leading to a potential strike as early as November 1, 2023. The transit rail strike threatens to disrupt city transit systems, including subways, trolleys, and bus routes.
• Healthcare Sector: Around 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers across multiple states hit the strike chord to clamor for higher wages and address staffing shortages​​, resulting in a 21% wage hike across the board.
• Automotive Industry: Ford and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union have reached a tentative agreement, prompting employees to return to the plants. UAW members at Stellantis and GM are still walking the picket line for better pay and job security.
  These ripples of union activities prove a rekindled labor movement is underway, as workers across the country unite to voice their concerns, demanding better work conditions and fair pay.

Empower Through Engagement

The narrative is loud and clear: Robust workforce engagement is not a luxury, but a must-have against the backdrop of the NLRB changes. Employers can cultivate a culture of trust and mutual respect by actively seeking feedback and making tweaks based on the insights garnered. As Max eloquently put it, “People just want to be respected, feel like they have a voice, and be listened to.”

The Road Ahead: Adapt, Engage, and Prosper

The NLRB changes are a signal that companies need to take a closer look at their engagement strategies and fortify company culture.

With this focus in mind, you can move past tensions and power dynamics, solving the issues from which unions emerge — like cultural problems, weak employee-employer relationships, and uncertainty amid organizational change. Worker dissatisfaction is the fuel that drives unionization talks. By addressing these issues with intention, and creating a better workplace environment, companies inherently improve operations and company health across the board. How are you planning to nurture your relationship with your workforce? How will you create a two-way dialogue that fosters a healthy and productive workplace environment? In anticipation of the NLRB changes, now is the opportune time to bolster your engagement strategy.

WorkHound provides the toolkit to bridge the gap between employers and the workforce, creating a healthy company culture by building better workplaces. If you’re ready to foster a deeper connection with your workforce, reach out today for a free demo.