OSHA & NLRB Forge Stronger Alliance to Safeguard Workers’ Whistleblower Rights

OSHA and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing the exchange of information and outreach efforts concerning workers’ whistleblower rights.

Announced on October 31, 2023, the MOU facilitates a more streamlined cooperation between OSHA and NLRB to effectively enforce laws and safeguard the rights of workers. In addition to this collaboration, the agreement seeks to establish mechanisms that raise awareness about the rights and remedies available under federal anti-retaliation and whistleblower protection laws.

NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo emphasized the importance of reporting workplace hazards without the fear of retaliation: “Workplace safety can be a matter of life and death for workers, so the ability to report workplace hazards without fear of retaliation is critically important. Today’s MOU will bolster protections for workers to speak out about unsafe working conditions by strengthening coordination between OSHA and the NLRB on our enforcement efforts.”

To aid in the understanding of workers whose rights may have been violated, OSHA and the NLRB jointly produced a fact sheet titled “Building Safe & Healthy Workplaces by Promoting Worker Voice”, to provide guidance on available options for individuals facing such situations.

Assistant Secretary for OSHA Doug Parker emphasized the significance of creating an environment where individuals can exercise their legal rights in the workplace without fear of repercussions.

Do you believe that this partnership will help workers feel more comfortable with their rights to foster safer conditions by speaking up?