A$)$ Class Prep $/$ Text Notes $($due prior to session$)$: Paraphrase three ideas from the assigned texts $($include page numbers$)$ to share in class. Look up at least two key terms, concepts or philosophical persons or do a bit of extra reading of a related text $($include source info, consider source credibility$).$ Share shorthand reflections. Then, review the slides for the upcoming session, locating one or two places where you could share.

Response:

$6\mathrm{.}3$ An organized workforce $($Byarrs and Stanberry$)$

Unions act as the agent$/$lawyer for employees during collective bargaining

Collective bargaining : negotiation process aimed at getting managements agreement to a fair employment contract for members of the union

In the past, have had some cons $$ have to pay union fees, etc $$ sometimes union works in the interest itself rather than the workers

Began in the $1950$s $,$ in the $60$s$,$ gov enacted employment laws that codified many of the worker protections unions had championed

In $80$s and $90$s$,$ unions became not as prevalent

From the $80$s to $2016,$ unions have dropped $20\%$

$14$ million people are in a union in $202130\%$ of this is from members in just two states$($california and new york$)$ bls$.$gov$/$news$.$release$/$pdf$/$union$2.$pdf

From the graph in the book, both of these states do NOT have right to work laws, which contributes to why they are the largest.

Right to work laws : give workers the option of not joining unions

Not forced

$28$ states have this

Closed shop $-$ requires all new hires automatically be enrolled in the labor union and the dues are automatically deducted from their pay

Codetermination : workplace concept that goes beyond unionization to embrace shared governance, in which management and workers cooperate in decision$-$making and workers have the right to participate on the board of directors of their company

Usually apply to companies of a certain size

Not common in the United States

$6\mathrm{.}4$

Privacy in the workplace

People are now getting monitored at work through increased technology throughout the years.

$48\%$ use a form of video monitoring

$30\%$ stated monitoring led to an employees termination

Majority of laws pertaining to this are indirect and inconsistent

Electronic Communications Privacy Act of $1986($ECPA$)$

$->$ business purpose exception allows employers to monitor electronic and oral communications

consent exception : allows employers to monitor if employees give their consent

Emails are not allowed through this

If a company gives employee a computer, can monitor everything on it $$ same with phone and tablet

software designed to show idle time or personal Internet use would be most helpful in seeing wasted time$($main goal$)$

While many things can be done regarding monitoring employees, what is considered ethical?

Would it be considered an ethical minimum to monitor everything that is allowed by law even though it takes away employee$$s privacy?

Drug testing

Question of should it be required for certain jobs?

Are there some that specifically should not?

$->$ usually up to the employer, except for a few jobs where it is required

Employer has to follow state laws, but usually allowed

Some states put legal constraints on drug testing

Some states it is legal to be in the bathroom during test, others it is not

Should it be considered an invasion of privacy?

employment at will : affirms that either the employee or employer may dissolve an employment arrangement at any point in time $($without cause and at any time $$unless an employment contract is in effect$)$

If refuse to take a drug test, risk of being fired AND not receiving unemployment benefits

B$)$ In$-$class notes: Note ideas from class $($mark speakers and times$).$ Include your own ideas from class. List a few things to look up further.

Response:

Workplace environment and working conditions

Pay gap between men and women

Some people think that it may be due to women not negotiating as much as men

Some companies have a rule that people cannot disclose their wages$/$past wages

Also, taking current pay into account, would not help rectify the issue because people would be looking at numbers that are not fair anyways

Female CEO earn $80\%$ of what men make

Company makes the job title different with different pay when the people are doing the same exact work. They are able to get away with this because the equal pay act does not cover this

So why is this still a thing?

Stigmas about work $$ women are going to leave the workforce when have kids

Just being sexist

Believe women are not as qualified as a man for the same job

OSHA $-$ more new rules in place to keep employees safe

Harry McShane

At $16,$ employed in a factory and lost his arm. Did not get paid. There are things now set in place $($bc of OSHA$)$ to stop this from happening

The goal of the law is to ensure that employers provide a workplace environment free of risk to employees$$ safety and h