CLOSED: NLRB Among Agencies Closed During Government Shutdown

Thinking about filing something with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) today? You’ll have to put those plans on hold, as the agency finds itself with many others that have been temporarily shut down while the country’s budget impasse continues. The NLRB has posted its contingency plan on its website. The contingency plan notes that limited services, such as the Office of the Inspector General’s hotline, will remain in effect because they are “necessary for safety of life and protection of property.” The vast majority of operations, however, are unavailable, such as case handling. The plan specifically notes that both representation and unfair labor practice charge cases will be impacted. Accordingly, if your company has any pending NLRB cases, you likely won’t be able to speak with anyone at the agency or even file documents, so you should review the agency’s website to evaluate how your case may be impacted. Of the board’s 1,435 employees, 1,426 have been furloughed until the government is back up and running. Other employment agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Labor similarly have suspended operations. We’ll see how long the shutdown lasts. Stay tuned.