TIPS for Management & Supervisors

Protected activities for County Employees under SB 230:

• Engage in, or refrain from, Collective Bargaining.
• Organize, form, join, or assist in an employee organization or refrain from doing so.
• Engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.
• Communicate with other County employees and with employee organization representatives and receive and distribute literature regarding employee organization and other workplace issues.

TIPS for Management & Supervisors

Follow these TIPS for what you can/cannot say or do:

THREATS or coercion of any kind toward employees is prohibited. Management cannot threaten negative impacts to employees in an attempt to either encourage or discourage them from engaging in their rights related to collective bargaining or workplace issues. This includes expressed dissatisfaction with workplace practices or supervision.

INTERROGATION or questioning of employees to learn if they are in support of collective bargaining, or asking them to gather such information about their co-workers is prohibited. Asking employees to report any information to management regarding collective bargaining proceedings is prohibited.

Making PROMISES or offering assurances to employees to improve conditions in an effort to encourage or discourage employees from organizing is prohibited, and is similar to making threats.

SURVEILLANCE or SPYING on employees' participation in, or events related to, collective bargaining efforts or activities is prohibited. Management should never attend a union meeting - even if you are invited.

A good rule of thumb is not to initiate any conversations with your employees about anything related to collective bargaining to lessen the chance that any of your comments could be construed as one of these prohibited activities. If your employees approach you with questions, do not share any opinions, and let them know you can connect them with HR to answer their questions.