Baylor Health Care System, Scott & White Healthcare Agree to Rescind Alleged Overly Broad Rules

The Fort Worth Regional Office of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) today announced that Baylor Health Care System, Scott & White Healthcare agreed to rescind various policies, including its social media policies, which the NLRB considered overly broad, and post and email an NLRB Notice to all of its 35,000 employees throughout Texas in response to a complaint filed by the NLRB, Region 16 Office in Fort Worth. Baylor Health Care System, Scott & White Healthcare provides medical services throughout the state of Texas.

Three Charging Parties filed unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB Region 16 Office, alleging that Baylor Health Care System, Scott & White Healthcare maintained overly broad policies with regards to social media, government investigations and inquiries, fair treatment, addressing compliance concerns, solicitation and distribution, union-free workplace, personal conduct, and its code of ethical conduct. Region 16 found merit to the allegations and issued a complaint because it deemed that the rules interfered with employees’ Section 7 rights to engage in concerted activity for mutual aid and protection. During the hearing, Administrative Law Judge Keltner Locke approved a settlement agreement resolving the dispute. Under the terms of the settlement, which contained a non-admissions clause, Baylor Health Care System, Scott & White Healthcare agreed to notify employees that it will rescind its policies and post NLRB notices at all of its locations throughout Texas, as well as notify its employees electronically that it rescinded these policies and advising them of their Section 7 rights in the workplace.