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What I’ve Been Reading This Week

 

Remote work has been an ongoing topic over the past (many) months.  While remote work has been relatively accepted by both employers and employees alike, a potential change to remote work policy/pay at Google just might shake things up...and not necessarily in a good way.

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.


Pay Reduction For Remote Workers? At Google, That’s Under Consideration

Business Insider wrote a recent article in which it noted that some companies, including Google, are weighing pay reductions for workers that have chosen to work remotely rather than return to the office.  The logic follows that since these workers are working remotely (and have often relocated to a lower cost of living locale), a pay reduction makes sense (in the mind of employers that is.)  While nothing is certain and the idea could fizzle out, if a large scale employer like Google is considering such a move, surely others will follow suit.


ALJ Finds Starbucks Unlawfully Terminated Two Employees That Sought to Unionize

Recently, an administrative law judge (“ALJ”) held that Starbucks had unlawfully terminated two employees that were trying to unionize.  In doing so, the ALJ ordered Starbucks to reinstate the two employees, provide back pay, and post fliers that stated Starbucks would not interfere with employees’ right to unionize.  Granted, it is expected that Starbucks will appeal the ALJ’s ruling to the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”).  However, with the NLRB starting to take a more labor friendly stance, a different ruling before the NLRB is not guaranteed.  Stay tuned.

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