Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act: Protections for At-Will Employees in the Private Sector
Overview
This paper examines Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act and its protections for at-will employees in the private sector. It argues that NLRA Section 7 provides critical safeguards against unfair employer practices by protecting workers' rights to organize, engage in collective bargaining, and protest, even in non-union workplaces. The analysis uses the case of Sanzone to demonstrate how NLRA protections extend to at-will employees who face wrongful termination.
What this essay covers
- Definition and explanation of at-will employment
- Section 7 protections for employee rights including organizing, collective bargaining, and strike participation
- Case analysis of Sanzone and employer retaliation for social media protest
Preview
National Labor Relations Act
Name
Institution
Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act
At-will employment refers to the type of employment where the employee is hired and can be fired by the employer at any time with no reason, without any explanation, and even without giving a warning. At the same time, the employee has the freedom to quit the job at any time without reason and without having to give any explanation at all. Sanzone, for instance, in the article Words Mean Everything, is employed in a private hotel where she is not a member of any union. She is employed at will Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act gives a right to employees, especially those in the private sector, to champion their rights. It gives them the right to organize and take part in the negotiations of collective bargaining agreement and the generally favorable working conditions, including organizing for strikes and demonstrations where necessary (Bible, 2015).
At-will employees are protected by Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act too. Whenever they are fired by their employers, employees can go to court to oppose their sucking. In Words Mean Everything, the board reversed the action of firing Sanzone and her co-workers for a Facebook post she made protesting the error in her tax payment record, which was made by her employer.