As the saying goes, the news never stops. In this weekly news roundup, we’ll cover the top news stories impacting American workplaces and communities.
1. New NLRB Ruling Sparks Rework of Workplace Policies
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision in the Stericycle case prompts employers to reevaluate policies such as workplace conduct, camera usage and social media practices. They need to be justifiable under the new standard set by the NLRB.
According to SHRM, the decision holds that if employees could interpret a rule as restricting their Section 7 rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the rule will be presumed unlawful, placing a higher burden on employers to defend it.
2. Why “Belonging” Matters to Workplace Fairness Efforts
Companies that prioritize representation consistently show better business outcomes. This is the takeaway of an article written by Matthew Kincaid, Founder and CEO of Overcoming Racism, for Forbes.
Research shows that having more women in leadership positions leads to higher profits. Companies that focus on fairness in the workplace also have happier customers and lower employee turnover.
However, simply hiring from marginalized groups isn’t enough. Progress comes from cultivating environments where every person feels a sense of belonging and their unique perspectives are valued.
Visit Fair360 to learn about belonging, inclusive onboarding and other workplace fairness topics.
3. Tapping Into Talent From the LGBTQ+ Community
During Pride Month, some companies fly rainbow flags outside their businesses or change their social media profile picture to a Pride flag. To be more inclusive, there are steps companies can take and avoid tokenism.
As highlighted in an article from Mint, companies can evaluate their hiring practices to ensure they are not discriminatory. To drive change and create a culture of inclusion at work, organizations can also promote self-ID campaigns and revisit what their employee resource groups (ERGs) have to offer.
Download Fair360’s 2023 Pride Month Meeting in a Box for more insights.
4. Northrop Grumman Joins JetZero in Eco-Friendly Aircraft Design
Defense company Northrop Grumman (No. 27 on the Fair360 2023 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list) joined the U.S. Air Force’s blended wing program, JetZero, to develop an aircraft design that reduces fuel consumption, emissions and noise.
The program aims to decrease carbon emissions in aviation. Specifically, it plans to achieve this by creating a large-scale model that may potentially use hydrogen as fuel.
JetZero is collaborating with Northrop Grumman and Scaled Composites, receiving funding from the Defense Innovation Unit. Pratt & Whitney, an RTX company (No. 36 on the Fair360 2023 Top 50 list) engines have been selected to power the demonstrator.
5. Illinois Enacts Pay Transparency Law for Job Postings and Promotions
Illinois now requires employers with 15 or more employees to include pay ranges and benefits in job ads. They must also inform current employees about opportunities for promotions. The law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
Pay transparency laws are gaining traction in the U.S. New York’s law takes effect on September 17 and Hawaii’s on Jan 1. 2024. California, Washington and Rhode Island already have laws focused on pay fairness.
