Proposed Law Would Require Employers to Display Information on Workers’ Right to Unionize

Congress is considering a new bill that would require employers to display information about employees’ right to organize and other workers’ rights in the workplace.

Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) introduced the Know Your Labor Rights Act, H.R. 8418, on April 21, and it has since been referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. A companion bill, S. 4366, was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). The Senate version has been referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP).

The bill would mandate that workers’ rights be clearly and prominently displayed in workplaces. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) would also have to make the notices publicly accessible online to ensure both employers and employees can easily obtain accurate information. Companies that fail to post the notices could face fines from the NLRB of up to $500 for each violation.

Supporters of the bill have said it is intended to ensure that American workers are fully informed of their rights in the workplace and are equipped to advocate for themselves on the job. However, business advocacy groups are warning that the bill would essentially require companies to endorse unions. In a letter to the HELP Committee, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said the proposed law would create new requirements for small businesses that largely do not track new federal regulations, potentially exposing them to penalties.

“The so-called Know Your Labor Rights Act violates First Amendment protections and unnecessarily involves the government in what should be voluntary agreements,” said Dylan Rosnick, principal of federal government relations for the NFIB. “Requiring small business owners to notify employees of their long-held right to unionize unnecessarily forces the small business owners to promote unionization and unfairly tilts the scales in favor of labor unions. NFIB opposes this legislation and urges Congress to reject it.”