Activist NLRB

Remember AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion?  Many thought the decision would lead many employers to adopt arbitration requirements that would prevent employees from pursuing class or collective employment claims. Last June we posted on the NLRB's request for briefs concerning compelled waiver of class arbitrations. The NLRB has ruled and its good news for employees. Employers who try to compel employees to waive all rights to a judicial forum for employment disputes violate the NLRA if the arbitration agreement also prohibits group, collective or class arbitrations.  The NLRB finds collective pursuit of such claims to be protected concerted activity. While employers may impose a requirement that individual claims must be arbitrated as individual claims, they may not also prevent employees from pursuing group claims in a judicial forum. The decision, D.B. Horton, Inc. may be downloaded here.