Employers will now have until January 31, 2012 to comply with the National Labor Relations Board’s notice posting rule: Notification of Employee Rights under the National Labor Relations Act. This rule, which was slated to take effect as of November 14, 2011, mandates that all private sector employers subject to the NLRA post a notice informing employees of their rights under the NLRA in a “conspicuous place” readily seen by employees and penalizes employers for non-compliance. Last month, the NLRB made available a copy of the required poster as well as a list of frequently asked questions about the rule.

According to a press release announcing the extension:

The decision to extend the rollout period followed queries from businesses and trade organizations indicating uncertainty about which businesses fall under the Board’s jurisdiction, and was made in the interest of ensuring broad voluntary compliance. No other changes in the rule, or in the form or content of the notice, will be made.

The rule itself is facing both legislative and legal challenges. Notably, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to nullify the rule. A hearing on motions for summary judgment is set for December 19, 2011. The court is expected to issue a decision on these motions before the rule’s new effective date.

For more information on the NLRB’s notice posting requirement, see Littler’s ASAP: NLRB Issues Final Rule Requiring Employers to Post a Notice Informing Employees of Their Rights Under the NLRA by Gavin Appleby and Tracy Stott Pyles. In addition, Littler invites you to a complimentary webinar on the new rule and its workplace implications.

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